Results of the Oder Survey

From May 22 to June 18, 2023, tmu Tourismus Marketing Uckermark GmbH, in collaboration with the Unteres Odertal National Park, conducted an online survey of tourism businesses in the national park region. The goal was to gain an up-to-date sense of the industry’s sentiment and to assess the short- and long-term impacts of the fish die-off in the Oder River in the summer of 2022.
The survey was aimed at tourism businesses located in the national park region that were directly affected by the fish die-off. Approximately 100 members of the Tourismusverein Angermünde e.V. and partner businesses of the national park were contacted via email, although some duplicate messages may have been sent. In addition, the survey was publicized via social media and the press.
Fourteen businesses participated in the survey. Due to the low participation rate, the results are not representative. Reasons for non-participation may include the survey period falling during the summer season or the acute staff shortage in the industry. It is possible that the businesses not surveyed were not affected or do not expect the survey to lead to an improvement in the situation.
“Following the COVID-19 crisis and African swine fever (ASF), last year’s Oder River disaster was the third major event in a row to impact tourism service providers in the Unteres Odertal. As the survey clearly shows, the impact has been significant. The River Floodplain National Park is the only one of its kind in all of Germany. The Oder River forms the heart of the region, which must be protected. Only when the heart beats—when the river is in balance—can tourism function,” said Volker Otto Tubandt, team leader for tourism at the National Park Administration.
The majority of those surveyed were (severely) affected by last year’s Oder flood; for some, it even had consequences that threatened their livelihoods. Should the disaster recur, this could mean—especially for businesses that are already severely weakened—that they would have to cease operations or look for another place to work. The interplay of multiple crises—such as general price trends and labor shortages—further exacerbates the situation and thus increases the risk of business closures. This can lead to a chain reaction. “When businesses such as vacation rentals or boat rental companies close, local restaurants and retail stores also lose revenue due to the absence of tourists,” explains Anet Hoppe, managing director of tmu GmbH. In the long term, the diversity of the region’s tourism offerings suffers. Yet even today, the region needs a broader and better range of dining options, as well as high-quality, creative, and innovative tourism offerings, in order to keep up with the competition and remain attractive to tourists.
Although the region has gained recognition thanks to media attention, it has suffered significant damage to its image in the tourism sector. There has been a decline in overnight stays and day trips, partly due to cancellations. Tourists are (in some cases still) unsettled. They are also staying away due to a lack of awareness of alternative tourism options in the Oder region. Consequently, bookings for this season are off to a slow start among the majority of those surveyed. The potential long-term ecological consequences of the disaster are not yet foreseeable for the already tarnished image of the region’s nature tourism offerings. Repeated fish kills would further damage that image. Following the crises and disasters of recent years and looking toward the future, the Oder region has lost its appeal both as a vacation destination and as a place to work.
It is alarming that some of those surveyed have already given up hope for positive change through political action. Regaining this trust is certainly the greatest challenge. And yet, policymakers must step up: providers need straightforward financial support. In addition, respondents would like to see negotiations and clear agreements with the Polish government to ensure the good ecological condition of the Oder River as the basis for life and the economy in the national park region.
The full report on the findings can be viewed on the following website at www.tourismus-uckermark.de/oderbefragung.