Coolcation trend: The Baltic Sea is attracting more and more holidaymakers!

Coolcation trend: The Baltic Sea is attracting more and more holidaymakers!

Travel has changed in recent years, and a new trend has emerged: the “coolcation”. The cooler regions of Germany, such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, are increasingly becoming the focus of holidaymakers from the south. “Coolcation” combines the need for relaxation with an experience close to nature, without the risk of burning in the summer heat. This development is seen as a sign of climate change and opens up new perspectives for the tourism industry, as Nordkurier reports.

Tourism experts see enormous potential for an increase in holidaymakers in the cooler northern regions during the summer holidays. One of the attractive aspects of Mecklenburg holiday experiences is the cooling effect of the Baltic Sea, which, according to Michael Succow, a renowned conservationist and winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize, contributes significantly to relaxation. In 2024, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania registered around 983,000 overnight stays by foreign tourists, which corresponds to just 3% of the total of 32.9 million overnight stays. Another obstacle to incoming growth is likely to be transport connections, with Kai Otto, head of the tour operator PTI Panoramica, pointing to the central role of Rostock-Laage Airport.

Strong advertising for the North Sea

Another player in the “coolcation” trend is Lower Saxony, which wants to increase its advertising measures, especially on the Wadden Sea coast. The North Sea Tourism Agency (Tano) ran advertising targeted at hotter cities during the recent heatwave. Managing director Mario Schiefelbein emphasizes that the cooler North Sea is an advantage for holiday planning that should not be underestimated compared to the classic destinations on the Mediterranean.

A look outside the box

At the same time, there are discussions around the world about the safety of children on online platforms, such as recently in a case against the gaming platform Roblox, in which Louisiana filed a lawsuit. Attorney General Liz Murrill warns that Roblox has created an environment in which it is easy for sex offenders to contact children. The allegations relate, among other things, to the fact that Roblox has not implemented sufficient security measures. Murrill says the priority should be the safety of children, not the growth of the company. Roblox doubts these allegations and points to existing security measures, but also wants to introduce a new age verification that requires video selfies from users.

These developments show how important it is not only to observe modern trends in tourism and social challenges, but also to actively respond to them. Whether through progressive advertising measures or increased security standards – those responsible have a duty to protect the interests of all groups involved.