The tourism working group was recently held in Hamm (Sieg) at the invitation of Westerwald Touristik-Service. In addition to members of the WTS, representatives from local authorities, districts, nature parks and other tourism organizations were also present. At the beginning of the meeting, the importance of cooperation for the region's tourism development was emphasized. The participants reported on current challenges and presented ongoing projects. This was followed by the presentation of the results of the BTE study on media use by hikers, which provided valuable insights into trends and expectations in hiking tourism.
Updates were also given on the successful events of recent months, including the Wäller Spendenwanderung (Wäller donation hike) with over 600 participants. Plans for the RZ Winter Hiking Day on January 5, 2025 at the Westerwald Brewery, as well as the completion of new hiking brochures and the recertification of the WesterwaldSteig, among other things, were also in focus. One focus was on marketing the region as a cycling destination, particularly through a gravel bike campaign in collaboration with komoot.
Special attention was also paid to the topic of sustainability. The aim is to preserve the Westerwald as an attractive tourist region for future generations through sustainable offers. Finally, organizational changes were discussed, such as the abolition of the obligation to register German guests in accommodation establishments from 2025.