Hamburg's Christoph Ploß becomes the government's new tourism coordinator

Hamburg's Christoph Ploß becomes the government's new tourism coordinator

Christoph Ploß is the federal government's new tourism coordinator. The CDU politician and member of the Bundestag for Hamburg-Nord/Alstertal succeeds Dieter Janecek, who held the position for two years. Ploß will take on his new role with the challenge of strengthening the maritime economy in Germany and promoting the tourism industry. This appointment was announced by the Federal Ministry of Economics and took place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, by the Federal Cabinet.

Ploß brings extensive networks and experience in transport policy, which he has built up over several decades in Hamburg and nationally. In this context, Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche praised his familiarity with the maritime industry, which will be of crucial importance for his new task. However, when Ploß was appointed, there was no appointment of a state secretary, which was considered desirable by various tourism associations.

Projects and goals

Christoph Ploß has formulated several concrete goals. He would like to reduce the renovation backlog in German ports and plans to provide coastal countries with greater support in financing seaports. Port policy is viewed as a national task, especially in view of the energy policy challenges that Germany faces. Important infrastructure projects, such as the A20, A26-Ost and the Köhlbrand Bridge, should be given higher priority in order to improve connections to the ports.

In addition, Ploß is striving for reforms of planning law to enable faster implementation of necessary measures. He also plans to increase investment in the highway, rail and waterway network around German ports. With an internationally competitive tonnage tax, he wants to sustainably promote the shipping and shipping industry and at the same time relieve the burden on the tourism industry through fewer requirements.

Strengthening Germany as a travel destination

Ploß' plans also include an expansion of rail and air traffic in order to make Germany even more attractive as a travel destination. In his role, he will also involve the previous MPs from Hamburg, Franziska Hoppermann and Christoph de Vries, more closely in the political processes in Berlin. With these steps, Ploß would like to promote sustainable positive development for the maritime economy and tourism in Germany.

His entry as tourism coordinator comes at a time in which Hamburg will be represented by 13 MPs in the new Bundestag, which means a decrease of three MPs compared to the previous legislative period. The next few years will be exciting as Ploß attempts to successfully overcome the challenges in both areas.

For more information about Christoph Ploß and his goals as tourism coordinator, visit the articles by fvw.de and ndr.de.