Panel discussion with high-profile guests at Ahorn Camp
Tourism as an economic factor in Rhineland-Palatinate with Minister of Economic Affairs Daniel Schmitt
Speyer. Yesterday, on September 25, 2024, a panel discussion entitled "Tourism in RLP - regional economic factor - and much more!" took place at the Ahorn Camp headquarters in Speyer. Experts from business, tourism, the hotel and camping industry discussed the current challenges and opportunities of the industry with guest of honor Daniela Schmitt, Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture, and were joined by Mario Daum (Speyer Economic Development Agency), Jürgen Vogel (IHK Pfalz), Alexander Reichmann (Ahorn Camp GmbH), Eric Kunz (Hotel Restaurant Kunz) and Christian Heck (Hotel am Wartturm) as well as almost 60 other high-profile guests.
Tourism as an economic and location factor
Minister of Economic Affairs Daniela Schmitt emphasized the importance of tourism for Rhineland-Palatinate. She emphasized that important steps had been taken in recent years to set the course for tourism policy thanks to significant investments - long before the crises of the coronavirus pandemic and the geopolitical impact of the war in Ukraine posed massive challenges for the sector. Despite the crises, she sees opportunities: "People are increasingly looking for deceleration and quality time close to home." Schmitt also emphasized the role of tourism for the quality of the location, which is particularly crucial in the fight against the shortage of skilled workers. Alexander Reichmann, Managing Director of Ahorn Camp GmbH, provided an insight into the camping industry in particular: "This type of tourism brings capital into the cities, as motorhome owners are high-spending tourists and primarily go on national vacations. At the same time, there is a shortage of pitches; a clear strategy and more pitches provided by the municipalities are needed."
Regulation and bureaucracy: obstacles for SMEs
Alexander Reichmann and Jürgen Vogel emphasized the need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Reichmann emphasized that SMEs and family businesses in particular are suffering from the increasing density of regulation and lack of direction in local politics: "We invest and do everything we can. But we need more freedom of action and appreciation." Vogel from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce added that over-regulation and the multitude of funding programs often tend to have a slowing effect: "Less bureaucracy, fewer taxes and duties - that must be the goal." Both appealed for a strengthening of entrepreneurial freedom in order to secure Rhineland-Palatinate as an attractive business location.
Call for a reduction in bureaucracy and a new labor market culture
Schmitt pointed out that the government had already implemented 57 measures to relieve the burden on SMEs. At the same time, she called for a more open attitude towards qualified immigration and more "desire for performance" in society. "We need to place greater emphasis on the value of work and an interest in responsibility again," she emphasized.
Appreciation and attitude as factors for the future
In her closing speech, Schmitt emphasized the importance of valuing family businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as agricultural and craft businesses. Her policy is aimed at practical solutions in dialog with chambers and associations. At the same time, she warned that there is often a lack of clear commitment to the business location in the social debate. She called for positive, future-oriented thinking in order to secure the country's prosperity and innovative strength. Schmitt's optimistic appeal: "We need to refocus on shared successes and also promote a willingness to perform in order to master the challenges of the future."
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Franziska Reichmann
Head of Marketing
E-mail: f.reichmann@ahorn-camp.de
Phone: +49 (0) 6232 / 10028-165
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