Detail and implementation planning for the Wachau Advent

Wachau Advent © Stadt Melk/Franz Gleiß
Wachau Advent © Stadt Melk/Franz Gleiß

In recent years, a number of initiatives have established themselves in the region in late autumn and winter which have had a very positive impact on the development of tourism and thus on extending the season. Apart from the long-distance hiking trail “World Heritage Trail Wachau”, which can be easily hiked even in the colder months thanks to the mild climate, numerous cultural initiatives, such as “ELIT” (European literature days), “Wachau in Echtzeit” (Wachau in Real Time - curated by Ursula Strauss) as well as many Advent markets and culinary events have become established. The implementation of the mobility concept (bus connections) means that all municipalities in the region can now also be easily reached without a car.

Together with existing excursion destinations, museums and cultural institutions, the available offer already provides a good basis on which to develop a regional concept for an extension of the season and for building up a late autumn and winter season of relevance to overnight stays. Specifically, the use and vitalisation of the region in winter should stimulate overnight tourism as a way of achieving an increase in regional value added at this time of year. For this purpose, the detail and implementation plan was commissioned, which will be put into operation in another phase of the project.

The Wachau Advent is intended to boost existing visitor numbers. The development and establishment of a regional late autumn and winter offering should make it easier for tourist establishments to remain open during this period. In this way, the tourist season can be extended and the individual establishments can generate more value added. Thanks to this increase in value added, the region and the tourism establishments should be strengthened to cope with further developments and projects – especially in an economic sense.

Discussed in the project selection committee: 24.11.2016
Project promoter: Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Funding level: 70%
Project duration: 1 year
Supported by the federal province and the European Union (LEADER).

erstellt am 25.03.2017