The Koblenz Chamber of Industry and Commerce met with tourism professionals from the four districts on the right bank of the Rhine - Altenkirchen, Neuwied, Westerwald and Rhein-Lahn - to discuss current challenges in the hospitality and tourism industry. With the "HOGANEXT" and "WORKING FAMILY" events, this year's focus is clearly on employee and personnel issues, which are vital for the industry.
"The tourism professionals from the districts are also complaining about the increasing number of hotel and restaurant closures in the region. Many operators are having to close due to a shortage of skilled workers. Business succession is also impossible to realize due to legal requirements, for example with regard to fire protection, as well as the high investment backlog in many businesses," summarizes Kristina Kutting, IHK Regional Managing Director Altenkirchen and Neuwied, the talks.
The municipal tourism talks focused on presenting suitable ideas to counter the trend with small-scale solutions away from the mainstream. This is also intended to counteract vacancies. "The online marketing of accommodation, gastronomic offers and regional sights and attractions must be used even more by all businesses for their own purposes in order to increase the frequency in the regions. There is a positive trend in the camping industry. After two years of crisis, the industry is optimistic about the new season," adds Richard Hover, IHK Regional Managing Director for the Westerwaldkreis and Rhein-Lahn-Kreis.