Escape the gas crisis? |
Mallorca attracts retirees with big discounts
Escape skyrocketing heating bills by simply wintering under the Mallorcan sun – why not? If you want to keep your gas bill under control in Germany, you can also think about it thanks to corresponding offers from travel providers. Among other things, Mallorca is now beginning to attract so-called long-term vacationers.
The Association of Independent Self-employed Travel Agencies (VUSR) had already made a controversial proposal in May. The VUSR chairwoman Marija Linnhoff argued at the time: “Seniors always add the costs of vacation to their normal expenses, you can deregister GEZ, turn off the heating, and you don’t have to calculate money for food. Many hotels have particularly good deals in winter.”
In fact: like them Mallorca Zeitung It has now been reported that there are actually attractive offers with long-term discounts – and seniors in particular should feel particularly attracted to them for reasons of time alone.
► An example in which every young family with children turns green with envy is given by Ingo Burmester from DER Touristik to the newspaper. 64 percent of the Mallorca hotels in DER Touristik’s portfolio have such discounts, says Burmester. In one of these hotels, for example, 42 nights cost only 1649 euros per person – that is 39 euros per day.
Burmester: “Anyone who can set it up in time will stay abroad longer and benefit from a mild climate and lower additional costs there.” The most popular destinations for such stays are the Canary Islands, Mallorca, Portugal, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Thailand.
Tour operators such as Tui or FTI also offer long-term discounts – but without explicitly pointing out the possibility of saving gas. Long-term vacations have become a general trend – also due to the consequences of the corona pandemic, when many employees simply moved their home office to a warm place.
FTI’s Manuel Morales told Mallorca Zeitung: “We do think that interest will increase here in the coming weeks.”
Beware of hasty escape to the south
As early as May, however, there was opposition to the travel agency’s proposal. NRW Economics Minister Andreas Pinkwart (62, FDP), for example, warned the “Rheinische Post”: “If too many people leave Germany in winter, this could cost purchasing power.”
Jana Schimke (43, CDU) warned: “Only a few pensioners should actually be able to afford the double burden of ongoing rent at home and stay abroad, despite state subsidies.” In addition, according to Schimke, it is not quantifiable what would ultimately be saved.
Despite the 300 euro one-time payment for seniors in the federal government’s third relief package, those who want to travel must keep in mind: the fixed costs in Germany (e.g. rent, insurance, taxes) remain despite cheaper offers abroad. And: heating systems must not be turned off completely in winter – there is a risk of bursting water pipes.
(cbu)