Roland Mack's frustration with the current situation can be heard. In clear, precise words, he describes Europa-Park's situation for Tourism Minister Guido Wolf and CDU member of the state parliament Marion Gentges at a virtual meeting of the CDU Ettenheim.
Employees return: Several hundred employees were brought back from furlough on Monday. Thousands of additional seasonal workers need to be recruited and trained so that they can be there quickly when the store opens. But all of these measures are based purely on suspicion, complains Mack: "At the moment we have no information whatsoever as to which time periods can be expected."
There is no perspective: the fact that one does not know under what conditions one can expect an opening again is what concerns the park most at the moment. Mack is therefore appealing to the Minister of Tourism to give the hotel and catering industry lead time. "We have to know where we are. I think that in Berlin you don't even know what it means to suddenly stop an operation the size of Europa-Park - and, if necessary, restart it," explains Mack.
Still no help: In November, operations had to be stopped within four days. However, the promised aid failed to materialise. "At the moment we cannot even submit an application for this - I would have hoped for more from politics," the entrepreneur makes clear.
Investments on hold: As long as the money is lacking, the park burns "equity in the six-digit range every day. It's a very, very difficult situation, we can only speak of luck that we have done well in recent years," summarizes Mack. In order to remain liquid, construction sites have to be closed and investments postponed. "There are now double-digit million amounts," emphasizes Mack.
Community under pressure: This money is not only missing from the park, as a look at the community shows: until a few months ago, Rust had reserves of ten million euros. Because the income from business tax collapses and large investments are pending, one must reckon with 20 million debts by 2022. "Europa-Park should not only be seen as a company in itself, the entire area is dependent on the catering and hotel industry. The whole region suffers," said Roland Mack.
Wolf shows understanding: "The situation is dramatic," agreed Gentges and Wolf. Large companies need just as much support in a crisis as small and medium-sized ones. Wolf: "We also want these companies to survive and grow. So I can share Roland Mack's displeasure that the November and December aid have not yet arrived - that is a loss of confidence."
Catering industry on the ground: The mood in the hotel and tourism industry is down, the nerves are on edge, Mack describes his impression from discussions with industry representatives: "Now politicians have to send out signals so that there is still a little courage, also for this year ", which starts almost even worse than 2021.
Politicians promise help: "We are in talks with European and federal politicians. One has the impression that there is no lack of good will, but the solution is still a long time coming - and that affects people. We are trying to stay tuned - there must something will happen, "Wolf promised.
Lower VAT again: Mack has a few ideas about what needs to happen: "The health of our guests is very important, but I believe that with the hygiene measures that are currently being implemented in the hotel and catering industry, one can also be responsible for one or the other . " In addition, he asked Wolf to advocate maintaining the VAT cut: "Basically, the catering and hotel industry has to foot the bill so that the economy and industry can continue to operate. They urgently need this VAT advantage." With this demand he ran open doors to the tourism minister. The state CDU wants the VAT cut to be extended until the end of the year, reported Wolf. "Looking to the future, a permanent reduction would be the best funding program for the industry that could be achieved."
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