NRW Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur on a sustainable journey of discovery through the Sauerland

Dedicated people, innovative concepts and a firm commitment to quality and sustainability - the Sauerland presented its full potential to NRW Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur as part of her summer tourism tour. During her three-day tour, she visited the region on August 4. The aim of this trip was for the Minister to have a direct exchange with regional tourism players and hosts, to visit successful projects and, in particular, to gain a direct insight into the development of sustainable prospects for the Sauerland as a tourism location.

Stops on the summer tour in the Sauerland included Winterberg and the Biggesee-Listersee nature experience area. At Biggesee, the Chairman of Sauerland-Tourismus e.V., Olpe District Director Philipp Scharfenbaum, welcomed Minister Neubaur on board the largest all-electric passenger ship in Europe. "With a gross turnover of more than 3 billion euros, tourism is an important economic and location factor in the Sauerland," said Scharfenbaum, emphasizing the importance of the industry for the entire region. This turnover is generated by the equivalent of around 40,000 full-time employees in the hospitality industry, he continued. In addition to the strong accommodation businesses, the Sauerland is also characterized by its innovative excursion destinations and tourist products. Mona Neubaur, Deputy Minister President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, was particularly enthusiastic about this mix. Ms. Neubaur noted that the Sauerland is not only strategically developing sustainability and quality as part of its certification as a sustainable destination, but is also really living it, which can really be experienced on site and seen in the tourism players.

At Biggesee, the Minister visited two sustainably qualified businesses - the Biggesee passenger boat service and the "Ommi Kese" vacation apartments, which combine day and overnight tourism in an exemplary manner with their concepts and offers. By converting the entire fleet of passenger ships on the Sauerland-Seen from diesel to electric engines, the Lux shipyard responsible has made a major and important contribution to green tourism in the Sauerland. After all, with 50 million day trips a year, around 8 million overnight stays in hotels, youth hostels and campsites and almost 8 million overnight stays in vacation apartments, the Sauerland is not only one of Germany's major tourist destinations, but also causes corresponding emissions.

The Sauerland has these emissions and environmental impacts in mind and wants to counteract them in a targeted manner. The minister took a look at how the region is implementing this plan step by step at the Niedersfelder Hochheide in Winterberg on the Rothaarsteig. The Rothaarsteig is currently being developed into Europe's first sustainable and climate-friendly hiking trail with state and EU funding. During the hike across the Heid, however, the major problem of African swine fever, which directly affects tourism in large parts of the Sauerland, was also clearly addressed. The region and the industry would like support and assistance from Düsseldorf.

The Minister was then able to fulfill a personal wish at the Astenkick mega zipline in Winterberg. She took the opportunity to try out the second longest zipline in Europe (1,000 meters) for herself and hurtled down into the valley at 70 km/h.

During her visit to the Sauerland, Dr. Jürgen Fischbach and his Sauerland Tourism team, together with the indispensable local players, were able to meet the Minister's expectations of getting to know innovative projects that combine environmental awareness, regional added value and high-quality offers and thus stand for sustainable tourism.

Press contact:

Anna Galon, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.,
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Tel.: 02974-969850, e-mail: anna.galon@sauerland.com