"Smart tourism laboratory" project receives funding approval
Rothaarsteig to be further developed into a sustainable and climate-resilient long-distance hiking trail
Local tourism professionals are delighted: during a visit to Werl by Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy, representatives have now received the coveted funding decision for the "Smart Tourism Laboratory" project. Together, the two tourism umbrella organizations Sauerland-Tourismus and Touristikverband Siegen-Wittgenstein want to work out how theoretical sustainability can be translated into tangible sustainability that can be used by guests on the Rothaarsteig cross-regional quality long-distance hiking trail. The project is being funded via the "Erlebnis.NRW" call within the ERDF/JTF program NRW 2021-2027.
"Following our certification as a sustainable tourism region via TourCert, this project is another important step for us in our efforts to achieve greater sustainability," says Dr. Jürgen Fischbach, Managing Director of Sauerland Tourism, explaining the importance of the project for the destination. "The implementation of analogue and digital guest services on the Rothaarsteig and the qualitative optimization of the infrastructure are exemplary for other tourism products and serve as important points of reference for future projects."
The funding project can therefore be seen as a practical addition to the state-wide "Nachhaltigkeitswerkstatt.NRW" of the NRW Tourism Association, in which the existing basic knowledge of sustainability is applied directly to a specific measure. The aim is to establish long-term sustainable approaches along the customer journey, i.e. the needs of holidaymakers and day trippers. This includes, for example, the question of how and at what point the value chain needs to be changed so that sustainability is rewarded and rewarded from the guest's point of view.
Those responsible for the Sauerland Rothaargebirge Nature Park and their project "Places of Discovery - Experiencing Nature for the Youngest" were also delighted to receive the official promise of funding during Minister Neubaur's visit. The "Erlebnis.NRW" call for projects is part of the ERDF/JTF program NRW 2021-2027 and aims to shape the future of culture, nature and sustainable tourism. A total of 120 million euros in investment is planned.
Contact for the press:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Tel.: 02974-969830, e-mail: presse@sauerland.com
