Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp.

12-26
K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

KARL-HEINZ BREITZMANN, PhD, Full Professor

WERNER SPERLING, PhD, Assistant Professor
Baltic Institute of Marketing, Transport and Tourism
Institute of Transport and Logistics, University of Rostock, Germany

MARITIME TOURISM IN
MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA
STRUCTURE, DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL
ECONOMIC EFFECTS

UDC 338.48:658.8](430)
Original scientific paper

Maritime tourism plays a considerable and increasing role. Its most important segments are
characterized as well as their development tendencies and effects.
Key words: maritime tourism, incoming tourism, tourism marketing.

1.

AIM OF THE CONTRIBUTION

For the federal land Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the northeast of the

Federal Republic of Germany tourism is of extraordinary economic importance.
This is justified both by the favorable natural and cultural conditions of the
land for tourism and also in its economic structure, which expresses itself in a small
share of processing industries in gross domestic production.
Up to the year of 2003 a substantial and constant growth of the number of
guests and their overnight stays was achieved until a decrease of the arrivals of guest
had to be accepted for the first time in 2004, 2005 was marked by stagnation. Each part
of the tourist supply is therefore of importance, in order to return to an upturn. Last but
not least the water tourism - the Maritime Tourism, as we call this range - plays a
considerable and increasing role.
We will describe the regional-economic effects of the tourism and the
maritime tourism for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and define maritime tourism, in
order to characterize the most important segments of this maritime tourism and their
development tendencies.
The basis forms a study concerning maritime tourism in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania, which we worked out for the regional Ministry of Economic

12

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Affairs1. Also some of the sub ranges were examined more in detail of our tourism- and
transport students in theses (diploma) and seminar works.
2.

MARITIME
TOURISM
IN
MECKLENBURG-WESTERN
POMERANIA AND REGIONAL-ECONOMIC EFFECTS

Since 1990 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has developed to one of the

leading destinations in the German vacation tourism. (Place 2 behind the federal land
Bavaria in number of the journeys). The number of overnight stays in commercial
accommodation facilities could be increased threefold in opposite to 1992 (Table 1).
This was made possible by high investments in tourist infrastructures and by the
development of extent and quality of the entire tourist supply. The federal land
supported this development with investments of 1.1 billion, which made private
investments of 5.4 billion possible. A visible sign for it is the high increase in
bedroom capacities. The number of beds in commercial accommodation facilities rose
from 67,313 in the year 1992 to 188,924 in the year 20042.
Table 1:

Development of arrivals and nights spent in accommodation

establishments / Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 1992 2004

Year

Arrivals
(1000)

Nights spent
(1000)

Average
duration of
stay (days)

Average bed
occupancy
(%)

1992

1,976

6,659

3.4

44.6

1994

2,417

8,664

3.6

41.0

1996

2,850

10,809

3.8

38.2

1998

3,316

13,280

4.1

33.2

2000

4,258

18,240

4.3

36.1

2001

4,535

19,760

4.4

37.2

2002

4,751

21,006

4.4

38.5

2003

5,146

22,140

4.4

40.9

2004

4,946

21,348

4.3

39.1

Source:

compiled from: Statistische Berichte Tourismus in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" (1992 2004),

Statistisches Landesamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

As economic factor the tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania exhibits

an above-average importance compared with other lands of the Federal Republic.
Overnight and daily tourism together result a gross turnover of 3.5 billion (2003).
1

Feige, M., Breitzmann, K.-H., Obenaus, H. et al: Entwicklungschancen des maritimen Tourismus in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Studie fr das Wirtschaftsministerium Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schwerin
2000.
Statistisches Landesamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Statistische Berichte Tourismus in MecklenburgVorpommern Dezember 1992, Dezember 2004.

13

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

The derivable contribution to the net domestic product is 1.7 billion and the
share of the tourism of the entire net domestic product amounts to 7.4 %.
Approximately 130,000 jobs result from tourism (hospitality industry, retail and other
industries)3. A considerable part of more than 10% of this economic output is
contributed by maritime tourism, for which excellent conditions exist in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania.
As maritime tourism we understand thereby all the tourism supply, which
use the open sea, territorial coastal waters, lakes, rivers and channels as natural basic
condition for various tourism activities.
Figure 1: Water tourism areas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania offers particularly favorable natural

conditions for this maritime tourism. The land has 340 km of outer coast line at the
Baltic Sea, 1130 km bay coast line, 60 islands, 2013 lakes with a total area of 724 km
and approx. 26000 km running water, with predominantly unspoiled and natural banks
(Figure 1). The majority of the wide nature conservation areas of the land includes
coastal and lake areas (like e.g. the national park `Mritz`, the national parks
`Vorpommernsche Boddenlandschaft` and `Jasmund`, the national park `Feldberger
Seenlandschaft), the biosphere reserves `Sdostrgen` and `Schaalsee`, bird sanctuaries
like the `Wismarer Bucht`, the `Greifswalder Bodden, the `Peenetal` et al.
To the maritime oriented original supply factors belong also important
cultural-historical conditions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is to refer to the
3

Landestourismuskonzeption Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2010, S. 19,20.

14

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

buildings and city ensembles from the days of the Hanseatic League, the typical flair of
the seaside resorts and fishing villages, sea ports, lighthouses etc.
In addition there are the derived (secondary) supply-components of maritime
tourism in the shape of developed and guarded beaches, sea bridges, camping sites at
the water, regatta areas, marinas, ship-jetties and water hiking resting places, boat
moorings, sails, motor and houseboats, rowing boats, canoes, kayaks, surf-, dippingand fishing-equipment, ferry and cruise ships, traditional sailing ships etc. Sea and
navigation museums as well as museum ships are also very popular.
Based on the use and the interaction of these potential-factors exists a large
number of tourism segments, which lead us to the definition of the maritime tourism.
As the Figure 2 represents, we did not take the largest segments - the beach and the
bathing tourism as well as the camping tourism at the water - into the closer definition.
This term should rather cover: the boat tourism and the different kinds of water sports,
the excursion shipping, the sea and river cruising, the passenger ferry shipping and the
touristic traditional shipping, maritime events, maritime culture tourism and last but not
least the still underdeveloped maritime industry tourism.
As evident from Table 2 for 1998, boat tourism and water tourism, maritime
events, excursion shipping and passenger ferry shipping were the best-selling
segments. Cruising and touristic traditional shipping were only niche markets.
Table 2:

Turnover and income effect of maritime tourism in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania 1998

Segment
Boat tourism and
water sport
Excursion
shipping (only
touristic
passengers)
Cruise shipping
(sea and river)
Passenger ferry
shipping
Maritime events
Touristic
traditional
shipping
(excursions and
multi day trips)
Sum

Average daily
expenditure per
day of stay ()

Gross turnovers in
million ()

income-effect
turnover from the
1st+2nd turnover
stage in million ()

24.85 (without the rent

of the boat)

71.6

38.7

21.73

26.1

14.1

28.38

1.5

0.8

5.88

15.9

8.6

20.45

40.9

22.1

20.81

1.1

0.6

17.6

157.1

84.9

Source: dwif, OIR, FUR: Entwicklungschancen des maritimen Tourismus in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,

Schwerin 2000, S. 106.

15

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

However since 1998 new developments have occurred and today we have also
more exact dates. So the touristic sales of the cruising passengers and the crew
members in Rostock in the year 2004 are estimated on 5.9 to 6.9 million. That is 60
70 per visitor4. In addition more than 6 million come from the incomes of the port
and service industry for the ship arrivals. Exclusively for the Hanse Sail we estimate
the touristic turnover 2005 on 177 million.
Figure 2: Elements of maritime tourism
Maritime tourism
in the broader sense

Maritime tourism in the

sense of the presentation

Tourism offers connected

with maritime tourism

Beach and seaside

tourism/ bathing
holidays
Camping tourism at the
water
Boat tourism and water
sport

Boat tourism and water sport

Sailing

Sailing

Water hiking

Water hiking

Houseboat

Houseboat

Urban and culture tourism

Motorboat

Motorboat

Biking tourism

Diving

Diving

Hiking tourism

Waterskiing

Waterskiing

Spa and health tourism

Fishing

Fishing

Congress and meeting tourism

Shipping

Shipping

Weekend and day tourism

Excursion shipping

Excursion shipping

Touristic major projects

Passenger ferry
shipping

Passenger ferry shipping

Accommodation industry

Sea cruising

Sea cruising

Gastronomy (food and beverage)

River cruising

River cruising

Touristic traditional
shipping

Touristic traditional shipping

Maritime events

Maritime events

Maritime industry
tourism
Maritime culture
tourism

Maritime industry tourism

Maritime culture tourism

Benkenstein, M., Bastian, J., in bbu: Zufriedenheit der Kreuzfahrtpassagiere und Crewmitglieder mit
Rostock-Warnemnde 2003 und 2004, Studien fr die HERO, Rostock 2003 und 2004.

16

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

3.

MAIN SEGMENTS OF THE MARITIME TOURISM

MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA AND TRENDS

IN

3.1. Boat tourism

There are more than 420 marinas with 32,000 moorings for the boat tourists
with sail and motor boats in the federal land. 14,000 of these are located at the Baltic
Sea coast and 18,000 in the inland (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Mooring places in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

They are predominantly new built or modernized and have a good or even
high quality standard. The most modern marina is the directly finished yachting port
Hohe Dne in Rostock-Warnemuende with a capacity of 750 moorings. Hohe
Dne is the first yachting port of Germany which was awarded with five blue stars
from the German tourism association. The group of companies, called Odin, invested
120 million into the plant including luxury hotel with congress center and high-quality
wellness facilities.
In the coming years an extension of the supply is to be expected, like 10,000
further moorings. An increase in net-density of the ports is necessary at the Baltic Sea
coast. On the basis of the needs of the sailors the distance between two marinas should
not exceed a daily distance of 15 - 25 sea miles. To that extent there are still clear gaps,
e.g. between Wismar and Travemnde, in the east of Warnemnde, whereby the
emergency port Darer Ort represents a special problem, between Hiddensee und
Glowe and also along the Usedomer outer coast.

17

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

But sailors do not stop at the national borders. Therefore the net must be
continued by our eastern neighbors.
Furthermore major improvements for the water hiking resting places for
canoeists and kayaks have been noted. In the meantime however some locks at the
much frequented water ways already became capacity bottlenecks.
The boat tourism results in industrial activities in shape of boat building and
repair as well as building of boat equipment. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
approximately 50 enterprises are offering such services, whereby some shipyards
developed top-quality products. However the enterprise density is still underdeveloped
in the inland. Approximately 100 enterprises trade with boat accessories and
equipment5.
A rapid grown segment is houseboat driving. For the year 2000 141 houseboat
charter firms could be counted in this land of the Federal Republic. Following an
analysis from the General German Automobile Association (ADAC) in 2004 the
amount was about 200. The number of users rose in the same period from 24,000 to
30,0006.
Among the providers are predominantly enterprises, which have a smaller
number of houseboats in the supply. Some offer at the same time or predominantly
motor and sail yachts, others have also smaller sport boats in the offer.
One of the largest and most complex enterprises is Kuhnle Tours. Today it
has 130 own houseboats, but also sail yachts, canoes etc., which are used from charter
bases in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and in France. At the
headquarters in the port village Mritz bei Rechlin works a houseboat shipyard. With
320 moorings it is the biggest charter base and a winter camp and in addition to this
200 vacation apartments with leisure and support facilities are available7.
The specific charter license regulation has been contributing to the success of
the house boat tourism. This regulation from 1999 allowed on a trial basis for 5 years
simplified rules for ships with a maximum length of 15m and a permitted maximum
speed of 12 km/h compared to the sports boat license8.
This regulation, which followed examples in France, the Netherlands and
other states, worked out so well, that it became permanent.
Further development in the house boat segment is viewed positively. For
example Locaboat Deutschland expects a duplication of the demand until 20109.
3.2. Excursion shipping
Excursion shipping is an important part of maritime tourism. Offers for boat
excursion trips normally complete touristic products on shore as well as in interior
land, only daily tourism may have the participation on an excursion trip as a main
motive for a trip to a tourist attraction.

5
6
7
8

www.mv-maritim.de, 14.09.2005.
Entwicklungschancen des maritimen Tourismus in M-V, a.a.O., S.5; ADAS Sportboot (2004).
www.Kuhnle-tours.de
Bundesverkehrsministerium (Hrsg.) Richtlinien zur Charterscheinregelung 1999,
http://www.bmv.de(Wassersport-, 1468/start.htm.
Locaboat (Hrsg.), Geschftsbericht 2003, S.32.

18

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Offers of companies taking part in excursion shipping are for example: one or
multiple hour trips, daily excursions, rides to a certain destination or on board
arrangements. Furthermore, local ferry connections are used by tourists as well.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania about 130 companies run 260 ships with
a capacity of around 32,000 seats and offer 500 full-time jobs, even twice as much in
summer time. Six larger companies own 20% of all ships10. One of the larger
companies is the Weie Flotte (white fleet) located in Stralsund with 7 ships which
are used for excursion shipping and for regional ferry traffic.
About 90 % of all companies have their location on the Baltic Sea coast or the
lake area between Mritz and Plauer See. In Rostock-Warnemnde for example 7
companies run their 1 to 4 ships (Table 3).
Table 3: Excursion shipping companies in Rostock-Warnemnde
Companies
Fahrgastschifffahrt
Kppn Brass

Die Fahrgastschifffahrtsunternehmen der

Familie Schtt
Warnow Personenschifffahrt R. Kammel
Fahrgastschifffahrt
Wolfgang Heckmann
Antaris GmbH
Angel- und Seetouristik e. V.
Angel- und Seetouristik GmbH

Tauchreisen und
Seetouristik Schuld
Bro Hanse Sail
Source:

10

Ships
MS Frst Borwin
MSKppn Brass
MS Min Herzing
MS Ostseebad
Warnemnde
MS Hansestadt
Rostock
MS Mecklenburg
MS Kasper Ohm
MS Rostocker 7
MS
Markgrafenheide
MS Schnatermann
MS Breitling
Dampfer Selene
MS Kehr Wieder
MS Epsholm
Zufriedenheit
Ueckermnde
Chemnitz
Hanno Gnther
Doberan
Dessau
MS Barents See
MS Klar Kimming
MS Gudrun
Gro- und
Traditionssegler

Maximum number of
passengers
300
222
222
250
230
230
140
250
159
50
150
220
38
12
47

12
12
47
250

Hoffmann, Christin: Kstennaher Passagierausflugsverkehr in Rostock/ Warnemnde

Angebotsstruktur und Vermarktung, Seminararbeit, Rostock 2005, S. 17.

Maritimer Tourismus in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a.a.O, S. 84.

19

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

During the last years a lot of modernizations of ports and landing stages alike
took place, paid by the public hand and the companies bought new ships. Also new
requirements became visible, for instance an increase in transportation of passengers
with bikes in inland which is not fully dealt with by the ships yet.
The traffic of passengers parallel to coast is very low developed. In former
times sea bridges played an important role as docking stations, but during the Second
World War and the following icy winters most of the sea bridges were destroyed. That
is the reason why most of the seaside resorts supported the idea to rebuild these sea
bridges and took part in the subsidizing program of government. Today we have again
19 sea bridges from Boltenhagen to Ahlbeck along the coast (Table 4), but their
function is different now.
Today they are used as lengthened promenades to the sea and are therefore
strongly visited even off season. Unfortunately some of the sea bridges do not meet the
requirements for docking stations, because of the low water depth or instability while
rough sea.
Thoughts to initiate a scientific program for developing coastal parallel traffic
came up in the last time, also to investigate the operation of unconventional types of
ships.
Table 4: See bridges in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Location
Boltenhagen
Wendorf
Rerik
Khlungsborn
Heiligendamm
Graal-Mritz
Wustrow
Prerow
Zingst
Sassnitz
Binz
Sellin
Ghren
Lubmin
Zinnowitz
Koserow
Bansin
Heringsdorf
Ahlbeck

Length (m)
290
350
170
240
200
350
230
390
270
105
370
394
270
350
315
261
285
508
280

Max water
depth (m)
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.9
3.0
3.5
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.5
3.0
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0

Construction
costs (Mio. )
1.1 1.2
1,3
0.7 0.8
0.9 1.0
1.0 1.3
1.2
1.0
1.5
1.5
0.6
1.9 2.1
3.5
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.4
1.7
1.,3 .4
1.8

Source: Voberg, Anne, Seebrcken und ihre touristische Nutzung, Diplomarbeit, Rostock, 1996, S. 18, 21.

20

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

3.3. Cruise shipping

Cruise shipping on open sea belongs to the market segments which grow
fastest in world tourism. In the 1980`s and 90`s the number of cruise passengers nearly
doubled worldwide.
After terroristic activities at September 11th 2001 a short stagnation existed,
but experts forecast considerable growth rates for the next years. Because of that for the
German market the number of cruise shipping passengers is calculated to rise from
583,000 in 2004 to 1 million in 2010 11.
In the region of the Baltic Sea, where cruise shipping is possible only in
summer months, just 5% of worldwide cruise shipping activities take place, but
especially there a strong increase is seen. Here find the cruise shipping lines, which
always look out for new products to offer, a shipping region with many attractive
capital destinations in 1-night-distances, rowed up like a pearl necklace.
Table 5: Calls of cruise ships in selected ports of the Baltic Sea

St. Petersburg
Copenhagen
Tallinn
Stockholm
Helsinki
Kiel
Visby
Gdynia
Rostock
Riga
Klaipeda
Total

Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers
Calls
Passengers

Passengers/Calls

11

1997

2004

163
81,300
205
248,500
138
58,700
141
85,600
116
69,000
33
20,000
83
32,500
50
54,.300
26
17,900
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
875
667,800

422
332,924
282
291,000
232
216,400
213
217,500
211
217.200
118
128,500
113
72,300
105
90,500
93
97,300
57
25,500
48
14,200
1,.457
1,616,.300

763

1,109

Klar zur Wende, in fvw, Nr. 22 2005, Niedecken Verlag, S.8.

21

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Rostock-Warnemnde participates in the development with a rapid growth of

ship calls. 1991 only 10 ships came in, but 1997 26 and 2004 even 93 calls with 97,000
passengers were registered (Table 5). For 2006 151 applications with 150,000 cruise
shipping passengers exist. Very interesting for touristic net product is the fact, that 40
calls are connected with a passenger exchange.
Rostock-Warnemnde is seen by shipping lines and passengers alike as port
of the German capital Berlin. Many passengers go to Berlin by bus or train for a
sightseeing tour 12.
From the point of view of regional economic effects the fact is welcomed, that
40 % of passengers stay in Warnemnde or in the region while doing land excursions13.
Warnemnde is well prepared for further development due to an investment of
5.5 million in a new cruise shipping terminal, which meets the standards of ISPSCode (International Ship and Port facility Security Code) of the International Maritime
Organisation. At the same time infrastructure has to be improved to avoid missing
docking spare in Warnemnde so that ships have to elude to the oversea habour of
Rostock.
It exists a strongly growing European river cruise shipping, too. 2004 more
than 300,000 German guests took part in a river cruise tour, an increase of 11.5 % to
2003. Also the waters between Oderhaff, Achterwasser and Peenestrom as well
as Greifswalder Bodden and Strelasund profit from river cruises between Berlin
and Stralsund. Anyhow around 100 calls per year are registered in Stralsund with an
average of 80 passengers 14.
3.4. Passenger ferry shipping
Around 50 million travellers use international ferry lines across the Baltic Sea
year by year. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the ferry ports of Rostock and
Sassnitz more than 3 million passengers are counted, whereby the lines Rostock
Gedser (Denmark), Sassnitz Trelleborg (Sweden), Rostock Trelleborg and Rostock
Hanko (Finland) are the most important ones. (Table 6).
Main travelling motive of touristic ferry shipping is the trip to the yearly main
holiday place, because of that demand is concentrated on summer months and
especially on weekends. Short trips are more typical for off-season, when ferry lines
market them as produced traffic to reach a higher usage rate. For the foreign visitors
shopping in Germany is an important part of the trip.
Daily tourism involves classic excursion trips as well as shopping tours. When
duty-free-sell was ceased in July 1999 a main motive for shopping tours was gone.
Nevertheless the differences in German and Scandinavian prices still give incentives
for shopping tours 15.

12

13

14
15

Lubatschowski, Rona: Kreuzfahrthfen im Ostseeraum und ihre touristischen Angebote, Diplomarbeit,

Rostock 1999.
Benkenstein, M., Bastian, J., in bbu: Zufriedenheit der Kreuzfahrtpassagiere und Crewmitglieder mit
Rostock- Warnemnde 2003 and 2004, a.a.O.
Schmidt- Walter, P.: Auf groer Fahrt zum Sund, Norddeutsche Neueste Nachrichten vom 27.4.2005, S. 8
Maritimer Tourismus in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a.a.O.

22

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Table 6: Ferry shipping passengers in Rostock and Sassnitz (in thousands)

Year

Passengers

Cars /
Caravans

Busses

Sassnitz - Trelleborg

Passengers

Cars /
Caravans

Busses

Sassnitz - Klaipeda

Passengers

Cars /
Caravans

Busses

Sassnitz - Rnne

Passengers
total
Sassnitz

1995

717.5

116.4

3.5

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

132.4

29.0

0.3

850

1998

789.3

115.3

4.9

15.7

7.9

n.a.

195.5

50.6

0.6

1,000

2000

735.7

117.2

4.3

27.1

4.5

n.a.

177.2

46.8

0.6

940

2001

655.7

113.8

3.8

9.8

2.0

n.a.

163.4

43.0

0.5

829

2002

675.3

131.1

3.2

9.5

3.3

n.a.

143.6

37.5

0.4

828

2003

787.8

166.3

4.1

11.4

1.8

n.a.

129.8

34.3

0.4

929

2004

708.1

162.4

3.3

8.5

1.6

n.a.

121.6

32.0

0.4

838

Rostock - Trelleborg

Rostock - Gedser

Rostock - Hanko

Rostock

1995

285.0

83.3

0.5

1,746.2

201.4

11.4

2,031

1998

698.5

165.6

2.5

1,355.9

171.2

14.1

2,054

1999

696.8

165.7

2.3

1,291.3

165.4

14.6

1,988

2000

750.1

165.3

2.7

1,007.0

153.1

12.6

2001

693.5

144.6

2.4

1,170.9

194.2

13.8

69.3

29.3

0.4

1,934

2002

717.4

149.7

2.6

1,224.6

206.5

14.5

164.8

62.8

0.3

2,107

2003

796.1

169.7

3.1

1,297.3

215.5

15.9

170.9

57.0

0.7

2,264

2004

788.1

158.8

2.8

1,264.0

212.5

15.3

176.8

1,757

54.3

0.8

2,229

Total:

2004

3,067

Because of actual studies we know Rostock`s regional effects of ferry

shipping very precisely (Table 7). 30 % of all passengers buy goods, 23 % spend
money for services and 5 % stay in Rostock or environs over night. This is where the
high expenses of 48 million come from. Not all of the ferry passengers contribute in
regional net product, but nevertheless the average of per-head expenses is 22.

23

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Table 7: Touristic expenses of ferry shipping passengers in Rostock

Position of expense

Expenses per head ()

Scale (Mio. )

Purchased goods

117 per head

out of 30 % of all passengers

39

Gastronomy, gas and other

services

24 per head
out of 23 % of all passengers

49 per head
out of 5 % of all passengers

21,80 per head in average of all

passengers

48

Overnight services
Total

Source: Benkenstein, M., Bastian, J. in: bbu/Ostseeinstitut fr Marketing, Verkehr und Tourismus,
Zufriedenheit der Fhrpassagiere mit dem Hafen Rostock 2004/2005, Studie Rostock 2005

3.5. Maritime big events

We define maritime events as taking place at or on the water, where mainly
ships or boats are responsible for atmosphere. As shown in figure 4 there are more
arrangements than just the big events Hanse Sail and Warnemnder Woche (week
of Warnemnde) in Rostock and the Mritz Sail. For example harbour and sea bridge
celebrations, sailing regattas, dragon boat races, Sund Swimming and so on.
Figure 4: Maritime arrangements in Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania (selection)
Maritime arrangements in full sense of the
word

Maritime arrangements in usual

sense of the word

Megaevents:
Hanse sail in Rostock/Waremnde
Warnemnder Woche (week of
Warnemnde)
Mritz sail
Habour festival and similar events:
Wismar
Freest, Peenemnde, Karlshagen
Haff- festive days: Rerik
Seabridge- festival: Boltenhagen,
Koserow, Graal- Mritz
Festival of Neptun: Zarrentin, Probst Jesar,
Neustadt- Glewe
Regattas (inclusive sail in and out):
Stralsunder Segelwoche (week of sail in
Stralsund)
Regattatage Zingst (days of regatta Zingst)
Bathtub-rally: Plau, Rbel, Neustrelitz
Pfingstregatta: Rbel
Dragonboat-festival: Schwerin

Megaevents:
Strtebecker festival games
Vineta festival games
Others:
Island sea festival Gstrow
Sportive events:
Beach parties and festivals
Beach volleyball tournaments

24

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

Anyhow the main event in the region is the Hanse Sail in Rostock. 2005
more than 250 ships took part, both large and traditional. Together with German ships
also participants from Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Poland and other
countries were welcomed. With about 1 million tourists, out of 1.3 million visitors, the
Hanse Sail is the third biggest maritime event in Germany after the Kieler Woche
(week of Kiel) and the Hamburger Harbour Celebration.
Many guests of the Hanse Sail stay over night and only come to Rostock because of
this event. Hotels are regularly booked out for this time. All together touristic turnovers
2005 are valued with 177 million. Overnight tourists spend on average 91 per day
and one day tourists 30. 16.
SOME CONCLUSIONS
(1) Maritime tourism is an attractive form of tourism for regions with many
coastal areas, lakes or rivers, whereby its polymorphism is characteristic. Some parts of
it are relative independent types of tourism for example sailing- or house-boattourism, while others are an interesting complement for different independent forms of
tourism for instance excursion and ferry shipping. Canoe and kayak tourism, fishing
tourism or the visit of maritime main arrangements might belong to the first category as
well as to the second one.
In addition the existence of maritime touristic offers rises attractiveness even
for guests, who not take part in them actively. For example tourists in guest survey
2003 state the activity of enjoy maritime flair on a scale from 1 to 6 with the high
result of 2.2 17.
(2) Maritime Tourism is a growing market. More or less all parts extend their
complexity, fascination water lures lots of tourists.
But of course competition also grows in this market between destinations
which are situated close together as well as far away from each other. In sportboat- and
houseboat- tourism not only Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania and Brandenburg are in
competition, but also French and Dutch water touristic regions and the Polish
Masuren, too. In cruise shipping even worldwide offers compete with each other.
Therefore offer quality and price-performance ratio determine success or failure.
(3) The example Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania shows, that purposeful
upgrading of water touristic infrastructure with high attendance of the government is
the base of all development. The construction and reconstruction of shipping as well as
river routes, marinas and resting places for water-hiking, wharf constructions and
mooring places, sea bridges, cruise shipping terminals etc. needs very high investments
and requires complex and medium-term programs, which have to be well coordinated
between state and municipality.
16

17

Berechnet nach Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns Gste Struktur, Zufriedenheit und Einkaufsverhalten,

Ostseeinstitut fr Marketing, Verkehr und Tourismus an der Universitt Rostock, 2004, Rostock 2004,.S.
82 ff und R. Sommer, Der konomische Beitrag und die Bedeutung von Events zur touristischen
Entwicklung einer Region dargestellt am Beispiel der Hanse Sail Rostock, Stralsund , 2000, S. 78.
Steingrube, W.: Weiterhin hohe Zufriedenheitswerte in Breitzmann, K.-H. (Hrsg.): MecklenburgVorpommerns Gste Struktur, Zufriedenheit und Einkaufsverhalten. Beitrge und Informationen aus
dem Ostseeinstitut fr Marketing, Verkehr und Tourismus an der Universitt Rostock, Heft 13, Rostock
2004.

25

Rejuvenating the Tourism Destination, pp. 12-26

K. H. Breitzmann, W. Sperling: MARITIME TOURISM IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

(4) Structure of supply is dominated by small companies. In MecklenburgWestern Pomerania the number of all suppliers is estimated at 1,300. That is why it is
strongly required, that suppliers cooperate with each other and with the government to
be successful, for example in networking their products, offering attractive packages
and performing marketing.
(5) Regional economic effects of water- tourism are considerable. It is very
pleasant, that studies of some German federal lands and even a German wide
investigation can give precise statements to that fact. Our paper also showed, that such
analyses have to be updated from time to time, just to reflect actual changes and to
work out further necessities of action. Last but not least researches of students of the
Baltic Institute support this process.
REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

ADAS Sportboot (2004).

Benkenstein, M., Bastian, J., in bbu: Zufriedenheit der Kreuzfahrtpassagiere und Crewmitglieder mit
Rostock-Warnemnde 2003 und 2004, Studien fr die HERO, Rostock 2003 und 2004.
Benkenstein, M., Bastian, J. in: bbu/Ostseeinstitut fr Marketing, Verkehr und Tourismus,
Zufriedenheit der Fhrpassagiere mit dem Hafen Rostock 2004/2005, Studie Rostock 2005.
Breitzmann, K.-H., Hrsg: Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns Gste Struktur, Zufriedenheit und
Einkaufsverhalten, Ostseeinstitut fr Marketing, Verkehr und Tourismus an der Universitt Rostock,
2004, Rostock.
Bundesverkehrsministerium (Hrsg.) Richtlinien zur Charterscheinregelung 1999, http://www.bmv.de
(Wassersport-, 14868/start.htm).
Feige, M., Breitzmann, K.-H., Obenaus, H. et al: Entwicklungschancen des maritimen Tourismus in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Studie fr das Wirtschaftsministerium Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Schwerin 2000.
Hoffmann, Christin: Kstennaher Passagierausflugsverkehr in Rostock/ Warnemnde
Angebotsstruktur und Vermarktung, Seminararbeit, Rostock 2005.
Klar zur Wende, in fvw, Nr. 22, Niedecken Verlag.
Landestourismuskonzeption Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2010, Wirtschafts-ministerium, Schwerin,
2004.
Locaboat (Hrsg.), Geschftsbericht 2003.
Lubatschowski, Rona: Kreuzfahrthfen im Ostseeraum und ihre touristische Angebote, Diplomarbeit,
Rostock 1999.
Schmidt-Walter, P.: Auf groer Fahrt zum Sund, Norddeutsche Neueste Nachrichten am 27.4.2005.
Sommer, R.: Der konomische Beitrag und die Bedeutung von Events zur touristischen Entwicklung
einer Region dargestellt am Beispiel der Hanse Sail Rostock, Stralsund, 2000.
Statistisches Landesamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Statistische Berichte Tourismus in MecklenburgVorpommern Dezember 1992, Dezember 2004.
Voberg, Anne, Seebrcken und ihre touristische Nutzung, Diplomarbeit, Rostock, 1996.
www.mv-maritim.de
www.Kuhnle-tours.de

26