The East Frisian Islands were recently deserted as the residents do not even know from the winter months. Now the tourists are returning. But a vacation on the island is a little different now.
The suitcases roll over the dike again – after weeks of closure due to the corona pandemic, the first holiday guests have returned to the East Frisian Islands. Among them Stephanie Warnecke, who travels from North Rhine-Westphalia to Spiekeroog several times a year. “Here the children can play on the sand. At home there is a bit of a disaster, my son shouldn’t be able to go to kindergarten,” says the 39-year-old.
When her family found out that she was allowed to stay in a holiday apartment again last Monday, she called the landlord directly. “It feels strange: wearing a face mask, restaurants only half staffed. But in Cologne it’s much worse – everything is more distant here, feels safer.”
Mouthguards are mandatory on the ferry
In shops, partly in the catering trade and also on ferries, mouth protection is mandatory. The shipping company Norden-Frisia has a security guard on board for many trips to Norderney. “Some passengers are somewhat inconsiderate,” said spokesman Fred Meyer. A couple who wanted to go to Spiekeroog were stopped on Saturday by the inspector: “You have to stay at least until the 23rd.” Seven nights are currently a prerequisite for the arrival, there are also restrictions for the other islands. The couple wants to extend the vacation by one day and increases.
On Saturday, more than 400 people ferried, mostly with backpacks, suitcases and packed wagons. “The joy of vacation is now twice as big, because until recently you didn’t even know if it would work,” says Jovana Stahnke, who works with the family Gutersloh sits on board. Her husband Heiko looks forward to taking off the mask on arrival and being able to move freely on the rather empty island.
Beach on Spiekeroog: Only part of the beach chairs are already there. (Source: Sina Schuldt / dpa)
Spiekeroog was surprised by the permission for vacation rentals
The few beach chairs that are already standing are all occupied at lunchtime. While the sun breaks through again and again, strollers unpack their snacks, children dig in the sand and some venture into the cool North Sea. The beach would actually be fully built in mid-May, but Spiekeroog is still in the middle of the season preparations. “We didn’t even know what to do next,” explains Mayor Matthias Piszczan (CDU). From permission for Apartments one was surprised.
Unlike on the mainland, where plots are sometimes staked out, no special measures are planned at Spiekerooger Strand. It is likely that not all of the 650 beach chairs will be set up to allow greater distances. On the larger island of Norderney, people think about running guidance systems on the beach, and the majority of the beach chairs are not there either.
“The first guests are there and are slowly recapturing the island,” says Borkum Göran Sell, managing director of the tourism company of the largest East Frisian island. “If ships with 500 guests arrive now, with over 20,000 guest beds, that’s not a lot.” According to Sell, the slow start is good. “Because of course we also have to practice in many areas: How are you?” At Pentecost when, according to the plans of the Lower Saxony state government, hotels, pensions and youth hostels with restrictions for Tourists allowed to open, the islands expect the right rush.
Children are playing on the beach: At the Spiekerooger Strand, no special measures are currently planned due to the corona virus. (Source: Sina Schuldt / dpa)
In shops there is great joy in the return of tourists
“The high season will be difficult. That can only work if the consumers get involved,” says Hauke Voskamp, who works in the café of the Spiekeroog bakery Backdeck. This week, however, the guests were very insightful, sticking to them Mask requirement and filled out the contact form with which in an emergency Infections should be tracked.
In the restaurant Givtbude the phone rings constantly – in addition to pizza orders, now also for reservations. “It’s a slow start,” says owner Jan Kölschtzky. He had to cut tables. Black and yellow markings are stuck on the way to the restaurant, and signs indicate the distance rules. “Especially in gastronomy, the lightness of being is missing – and will probably not be there for a long time to come.”
If you listen to island shops, the joy of the return of the tourists is greater than the fear of Sars-Cov-2. But it is uncertain whether all companies can compensate for the losses primarily due to the break-up of Easter business. “I think we may have a third less sales in 2020,” said Mayor Piszczan. “Always provided that there is no next shutdown.” If he hits the islands during the main holiday season in the summer, he is concerned that the police may have to move in if some guests do not want to leave voluntarily.
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