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Magdeburg (dpa / sa) - Prohibited class trips, significantly fewer group trips and the sometimes complete closure are causing problems for the youth hostels.
Last year, with around 109,650 overnight stays, there was a decline of 65 percent compared to the previous year, the Saxony-Anhalt state association of the German Youth Hostel Association announced on Thursday in Magdeburg.
School trips only counted 9,300 overnight stays, around 90 percent less than in the previous year.
Families provided almost 48,000 overnight stays, which corresponded to a decrease of 40 percent.
In 2020 there was expected to be a loss of sales of around 6.5 million euros.
After the regional association had a turnover of 10.7 million euros in 2019, it was only 4.2 million euros in 2020.
This minus has been mitigated by almost nationwide short-time work for the approximately 175 employees.
The support of the state and federal government is also an indispensable aid.
Ultimately, the postponement of a planned major investment in a new youth hostel in Quedlinburg largely ensured the regional association's survival.
That is painful.
Last year, according to the information, three youth hostels in the country had to close: Falkenstein and Radis and Quedlinburg with a total of 159 beds.
In any case, they were only competitive to a limited extent and had previously required the support of the regional association.
That could no longer be done with the corona pandemic.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210225-99-585617 / 2