4. There have been discussions of not allowing any cars on the beach – consider the implications for the tourist, the restaurant owners, the local businesses in town, the local council, the residents and the national park authority. St Peter-Ording is a small coastal town in the north of Germany with 4000 inhabitants, and an additional 3000 second-home owners and up to 25,000 tourists during the summer months. The key attraction of this seaside town is the beach, one of the largest in Europe, which would easily fit 2000 football pitches. The town attracts mainly domestic tourists who come to visit for its natural attractions (beach, dunes, forests and national park), health facilities and all types of beach and water sports. Furthermore, a significant number of day visitors arrive on sunny days (tourists and visitors combined can total up to 45,000). During the tourist season, a range of music and sports events take place on the beach and in town (attracting several thousand visitors).

Any tourist or day visitor is asked to pay €2.50 a day in the form of a tourist tax. The money earned from this income is invested in the infrastructure and redevelopments (such as a new pier bridge and promenade or leisure facilities) as well as in the cleaning of the beach. Having paid the tourist tax, visitors are able to use the local bus free, access the beach without having to pay (otherwise €2.50 a person per day) and enjoy discounted access to leisure facilities, museums and other attractions.