Strategies For Sustainable Tourism Development: Schladming-Dachstein Has Its Sights Set On The “Next Level”
The Styrian tourist region of Schladming-Dachstein has experienced extremely positive development in recent years and is now one of the five largest destinations in Austria with 3.9 million overnight stays per year. However, those responsible for tourism are already looking ahead and are already targeting the next level for the region.
- TVB invited to a high-profile "Tourism Dialogue" with lectures by renowned experts
- Around 300 tourism stakeholders from the region accepted the invitation to the Congress Schladming
- As part of the ninth edition of the "Tourism Dialogue" at the Schladming Congress, the TVB presented its strategies for the future to around 300 interested guests.
In recent months, the association has worked intensively with the expert Hubert Siller, university professor, long-time head of MCI Tourism in Innsbruck and vice president of the renowned think tank FMI Future Mountain International, on the further development of tourism in the Schladming-Dachstein region. In keeping with the title "NEXT LEVEL", a total of seven subject areas and principles were defined in a broad dialogue process.
Commitment to quality tourism, self-image as a year-round destination
"The strategy paper contains the most important principles that we want to use to guide our tourism activities in the future," explained TVB Chairman Andreas Keinprecht. "These include, among other things, a clear commitment to regional, high-value, and established quality tourism, and the region's self-image as a year-round destination with offers for all four seasons."
Combining global and local thinking
Another important pillar for a successful tourism future in the region is the combination of global and local thinking. "Both national and international core markets should contribute to stimulating the regional economic cycles. We see our most important markets today and in the future in Austria, Germany and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. We also want to further strengthen the Schladming-Dachstein brand, which is already characterized by a clear identity and a high level of recognition," explained Mathias Schattleitner, Managing Director of the Schladming-Dachstein Tourist Board.
Top events, excellent cuisine, lived regionality
In addition, Schladming-Dachstein continues to focus on hosting top events in the areas of sport and entertainment as well as on culinary arts and enjoyment. The Styrian region has long been an example of authentic regional cuisine in the Alpine region and wants to continue to promote regional initiatives in the future. In this way, tourism wants to continue to live up to its responsibility for the people in the region, for nature as a basis for life and for a sustainable economic area.
“We need a clear basic understanding of the most important questions of the future”
In his presentation, expert Hubert Siller addressed the major challenges in destination management: “A successful future will be shaped by the fight for the desirability of guests, the highest possible acceptance of tourism among locals and a clear basic understanding of the most important questions for the future. The Next Level Process of the Schladming-Dachstein region, which I have been able to support over the last few months, is a very good way to tackle these tasks together.”
“Every guest experience contributes to the brand value”
Sabine Hübner also shed light on the tourism success recipes of the future. She has been a successful entrepreneur for over 20 years, an internationally sought-after thought leader and speaker, and a service performance consultant for the top players in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She emphasized: “Every encounter - whether digital or analogue - always writes a story in the end. And every story, every guest experience contributes to the brand value and makes a real difference in the competition. Important questions in this context, which often need to be answered individually, are: What does it take in a digital world to inspire guests? And where do guests prefer personal encounters?”
Schladming-Dachstein NEXT LEVEL / Topics and principles:
# QUALITY TOURISM
The Schladming-Dachstein region stands for regionally-influenced, high-value-added and established quality tourism.
# 4 | 300 | YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION
The Schladming-Dachstein region sees itself as a year-round destination with offers for 4 seasons and around 300 days of operation.
# BRAND STRENGTH
The Schladming-Dachstein brand is characterized by a clear identity and great recognition. Through close cooperation with regional partners, the region is perceived as a strong unit both internally and externally.
# TOP-EVENTS
The Schladming-Dachstein region stands for top international events in the field of sports and entertainment – with strong media awareness and a focus on value creation.
# CULINARY & ENJOYMENT
The Schladming-Dachstein region is exemplary in authentic regional cuisine and promotes regional initiatives.
# (G)THINK LOCAL = THINK GLOBAL & LOCAL
The Schladming-Dachstein region combines global and local thinking. National and international core markets should contribute to stimulating local economic cycles.
# RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The Schladming-Dachstein region assumes responsibility for the people in the region, for nature as a basis for life and for a sustainable economic area.
