Federal Government Expert Calls for Extended Break Duration Over Summer Holidays in Baden-Württemperg Amid Ongoing Debate
In a recent interview with the "Bild" newspaper, Christoph Ploß, the Federal Government's Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, has proposed a significant change to the summer holiday schedule in Germany. Ploß, who also serves as the coordinator for the tourism sector, has called for a "decongestion" and an extended time frame for summer school holidays, aiming to reduce travel stress and lessen the occurrence of peak prices.
Currently, the start dates for summer holidays vary across the 16 states in Germany, with Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg always starting their holidays late in July or early August and ending mid-September. This staggered system has been a source of contention, as it often leads to "interstate spats" over fairness and practicality.
Ploß's proposals include a rotation among all federal states for starting summer holidays, aiming for more fairness and variety. He also advocates for an earlier start to holidays in June and a later end in September. This would allow families to travel before peak European holiday periods, potentially avoiding higher prices and crowds at popular destinations.
However, not everyone is in favour of these changes. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) has rejected any changes and insists on starting summer holidays last, at the end of July. He argues that this late start benefits the agricultural and tourism sectors in Bavaria, as the weather and harvest times favour vacationing in August.
The goal of Ploß's proposals is to strengthen local tourism acceptance. An analysis by the travel portal Holidaycheck shows that families from other federal states pay more on average for their summer vacation. Ploß believes that scheduling summer holidays should best reconcile the interests of companies and travelers.
Negotiations for the holiday dates beyond the school year 2029/2030 will take place at the end of this year. During these negotiations, the issue of more flexible holiday times in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg is likely to be discussed.
This debate is rooted in Germany’s decentralized education system and the competing interests of families, tourism businesses, and regional economies. While an earlier start could address some logistical and familial concerns, Bavaria and other states have practical, economic, and traditional reasons for maintaining later holidays. The annual dispute is not merely administrative—it reflects deeper tensions between national coherence and regional autonomy in German federalism.
References: [1] Deutsche Welle. (2021, March 18). Germany's regional disagreement over summer holidays. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-regional-disagreement-over-summer-holidays/a-57362867 [2] The Local. (2021, July 1). Germany's summer holidays: When does everyone go on holiday? Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20210701/germany-summer-holidays-when-does-everyone-go-on-holiday
- In light of Christoph Ploß's proposals for a unified and extended summer holiday schedule, discussions on economic and social policy, including finance, business, and politics, are likely to emerge as the federal states weigh the benefits of fairness, tourism revenue, and traveler convenience against regional traditions and economic interests.
- The ongoing debate over summer holiday dates in Germany, with its roots in the country's decentralized education system and regional autonomy, is considered a general-news topic due to its implications for families, tourism businesses, and regional economies, as well as the broader issue of national coherence versus regional autonomy in German federalism.
