Grabowhöfe returns tourism certificate: a surprising step!

Grabowhöfe returns tourism certificate: a surprising step!

Grabowhöfe, Deutschland - The municipality of Grabowhöfe has decided to return the "Tourism Place" certificate, which it only received less than two years ago. Mayor Enrico Malow explains that the title does not offer added value for the municipality. The municipal council unanimously decided to return the certificate before it could become a legal obligation from 2026 to collect a tourist tax from the guests.

Malow emphasizes that the community is currently unable to collect this tourist tax. Grabowhöfe's goal is to create appealing offers for guests, but they are not perceived as a “rip -off”. There are already tourist offers such as the local zoo and the church that the community is proud of.

consequences of the waiver of the title

The return of the title also means that the municipality is freed from the obligation to collect a tourist tax. In order to be able to raise a tourist tax, considerable investments in the infrastructure, for example in public toilets and machines, would be required.

The decision of Grabowhöfe surprises neighboring communities like Alt Schwerin. Mayor Daniel Radtke is positive about the voluntary introduction of the tourist tax in his community, which is one euro a day in the high season. Radtke emphasizes that the revenue from the tourist tax of the municipality, especially for tourist projects and the improvement of the infrastructure.

reactions and perspectives

The discussion about the tourist tax causes mixed feelings among landlords of holiday apartments, since this could mean additional costs and effort for vacationers. In the Müritz region there are currently 46 official tourism locations and three tourism regions, all of which want to exploit their tourist potential to make traveling in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania attractive.

The state government supports the municipalities in understanding the advantages of the status as a "tourist location". Radtke recommends that Malow advise yourself with the tourism association or the responsible office in order to check the positive aspects of the title and find possible solutions.

Grabowhöfe is at a crucial point: The return of the certificate could have both negative and positive effects on the future tourist development of the community. A balanced approach that takes into account the perspectives of the guests and the financial needs of the municipality could be crucial for further success.