The good news first: The tunnel construction is in full swing, positively impacting the hospitality sector on Lolland-Falster. The FLC Village, including its recent expansion, is completely booked with tunnel workers, meaning their managers and specialists are staying at local hotels.
And now the bad news: The local hotels on Lolland-Falster are packed with managers and specialists from the Fehmarn project.
Spreading across the region
FemernReport asked Lindy Kjøller, Destination Manager for the tourism organization Visit Lolland-Falster, whether this is ultimately a good or bad thing.
– It ripples out, benefiting a larger part of the region. There’s increased demand for meetings and business tourism, so we’re collaborating across the board. In the high tourist season, we’re generally sold out, says Kjøller.
More capacity needed
So, are you a happy man, or is it unfortunate to have to say no to some people?
– I’m a happy man. We’ve set records each year over the past few years, and this year will be on par with or surpass last year. It’s great that we can increase occupancy outside the season. But we clearly need more capacity, says the destination manager.
Balancing act
At one of South Lolland’s newest hotels, Hages Badehotel in Rødbyhavn, hotel manager Rikke Lohse confirms that Fehmarn workers are making their presence felt at the breakfast buffet:
– We’re seeing greater demand from the Fehmarn project. But we’re trying to maintain a balance between business and leisure guests. In the peak season, they also take a three-week vacation, which allows us to accommodate more people, says Lohse.
Is that good or bad?
– It’s good for us as a hotel, but for tourists, it can be disappointing. Finding a hotel room in the season is tough. We also have 100 percent occupancy, and some mornings we actually start at over 100 percent because there are always cancellations, she explains.
Potential retail impact
Back at Visit Lolland-Falster, the destination manager believes that both business and “real” tourists are equally valuable for the hospitality sector. In fact, business tourists spend more per day. However, this could pose a problem for local communities.
– In some towns, tourists account for up to 40 percent of retail sales, and business tourists don’t spend as much, says Lindy Kjøller.
