Debate over AfD boycott of Baltic Sea tourism in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Following recent European and federal elections, a recurring social media campaign calls for boycotting tourism on the Baltic Sea islands of Usedom, Rügen, and Darß due to strong support for the far-right AfD party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 2024, 242,000 people in the state voted for the AfD, while over 1.2 million did not. Despite this, after each election, users from major cities announce cancellations of their vacations there, arguing they won't spend money in regions where 20–40% of voters back a party deemed extremist. The author counters this impulse, noting that ahead of the 2026 state elections, the AfD polls above 30% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The piece questions the logic of boycotting an entire region based on electoral results.