In March, 2024 I traveled to the city of Stralsund on the German Baltic Sea coast to take a break from the drab gray of Berlin. Ocean and coastal environments have long inspired me. One of my most prized artifacts my late mother created is a painting showing two people sitting gazing out at the sea. Viewing the horizon only an ocean can offer can do profound things to the mind.
I first developed an interest in marine conservation and coastal lifestyles when I was a graduate student of the University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland, California. This was in the early 2000s. My primary professor, Dr. Apela Colorado, provided residential learning intensives to her students that took place on the Hawaiian island of Maui in the community of Lahaina. The beauty and expansiveness of the Pacific Ocean as well as my immersion in native Hawaiian knowledge and culture deeply inspired my interest not just in scenic places but also my enthusiasm for the diversity of cultures and the amazing wisdom and histories they feature.
Stralsund is a Hanseatic town on Germany’s Baltic coast. The town has many red-brick Gothic landmarks such as the 13th-century Town Hall. The Stralsund Museum features both a medieval merchant’s house and monastery. In the nearby Ozeaneum aquarium visitors can view many exhibits including one focused on the habitats of the Baltic Sea and North Sea, technology used to explore the oceans and seas, the MOSAiC expedition, and a room especially designed for children called “Sea for Children”.
The Baltic Sea is a popular destination for both Germans and people from throughout Europe and beyond who are seeking respite and rejuvenation. In early 2018 the municipality of Klausdorf,with its districts of Klausdorf, Solkendorf, Zarrenzin and Barhöft, was awarded the title of “State-recognized resort” by Minister of Economic Affairs and Tourism Harry Glawe. Such recognition serves as a “seal of quality” for visitors. In his official recognition Glawe praised Klausdorf for its infrastructure such as its resources for hikers.
Municipalities or their individual districts can seek recognition as both resorts and health resorts by fulfilling the requirements of the applicable state ordinance on recognition as a resort or health resort. Health resorts can be given a variety of designations including heilbad, sea spa, seaside spa, Kneipp spa, Kneipp health resort, and climatic health resort. In some cases two awards can be granted.
Wellness tourism encompasses tourism activities focused on improving and enhancing a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Wellness tourists may participate in any number of activities including yoga and yoga retreats, Pilates, hiking and much more. Tourists may also seek out wellness activities for the mind including meditation, sound healing experiences, silent retreats and more. Participating in events especially valued by the populace of their destination can also be very appealing to tourists seeking a big change from their everyday lives.
The wellness tourism industry is big business both in Germany and worldwide. The German wellness tourism market generated revenue of USD 46.0 billion in the year 2022 and is forecast to generate revenue of USD 108.4 billion by the year 2030. Meanwhile, the global wellness tourism market size was valued at USD 814.6 billion in 2022.
Traveling in March made for a relaxed time. It’s the off season on the Baltic Sea. I traveled to the coast to enjoy the views of the water. I stayed in the lovely Romantik Hotel Scheelehof. This well-rated hotel features eighty-seven rooms featuring different architectural styles, the restaurant Zum Scheele, a roastery “Kontor Stralsund”, and a wellness zone featuring massage, cosmetic treatments and a sauna. The Kontor Stralsund has repeatedly received recognition as the best coffee roastery in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by “Der Feinschmecker”.
The weather was profoundly foggy when I bicycled from Stralsund through Prohn and to Barhöft on the Baltic Sea coastline. The fog was so thick the horizon distinguishing earth from sky was essentially rendered invisible. Such days energize my artistic sensitivity. Fog often creates a fascinating interplay of light and shadow. We can experience such interplay as an invitation to contemplate the clarity of our own world. What do we clearly see? What is vague that we seek to focus upon? Coastal settings can be a great source of inspiration for visual artists.
Did you know that one of every two breaths we take each day is made possible by our planet’s oceans? Even if we live far distant from an ocean, we all daily benefit from many features of the oceans including its biodiversity, fisheries, carbon sequestration capacity and more. If you live near an ocean, sea, lake or other body of water I encourage you to learn more about how you can support conservation efforts in your local community!
About The Author
Bernd Geels is a Germany based researcher, artist and writer. He served in roles in support of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary System when he still lived in the United States. He is currently exploring opportunities to once more work in the field of marine conservation.