The federal government's tourism expert confirms that the district is at the forefront when it comes to visitor management

Created: 08/08/2022, 11:00 am

By: Sebastian Grauvogl

Had a lot to talk about: (from left to right) REO Managing Director Thorsten Schär, rangers Alexander Römer and Anderl Hügel, REO Board Member Harald Gmeiner, REO Board Chairman Alexander Schmid, and Green Members of the Bundestag Stefan Schmidt and Karl Bär.

© THOMAS PLETTENBERG

A tourism expert from the Greens parliamentary group looked over the shoulders of the rangers in the Miesbach district.

His conclusion: A project that should set a precedent.

District

– A "dry run" in the Altmühltal was not enough for Stefan Schmidt.

In the district of Miesbach, the head of the tourism working group of the Greens in the Bundestag wanted to look over the shoulders of the rangers outdoors in nature.

The 41-year-old said after his arrival in Miesbach – by train, of course – that he was particularly curious about how people would react.

The visit was organized by Holzkirchner member of the Bundestag Karl Bär.

And he too had already laced up his hiking boots when he came to the new regional development Oberland (REO) to greet them.

The two board members of the municipal company, Alexander Schmid (chairman) and Harald Gmeiner, as well as REO managing director Thorsten Schär, were happy to take the time to give the two politicians a brief outline of the efforts in terms of visitor management in the Miesbach district.

And to explain to them that the rangers' achievements would justify a larger budget.

More than 70,000 day trippers over 90 days

As tourism policy spokesman for the Greens in the Bundestag, it is of great interest to him how the tension between leisure use and nature conservation can be resolved in heavily frequented regions, Schmidt explained his mission.

Gmeiner was able to impressively demonstrate to the member of parliament that the district of Miesbach is the right address for this with figures from a mobile phone data analysis.

On average, more than 70,000 day trippers come to the district of Miesbach 90 days a year.

For comparison: Even with full occupancy, a maximum of 16,000 overnight guests would be here.

In order to distribute the onslaught better, the REO is taking part in a pilot project, Schär reported.

Real-time data on traffic flow and parking space utilization is to be collected with sensors and then incorporated live into recommendations for action for arriving guests, Schär reported.

These should then be guided to less frequented destinations in and in the future also outside the district before they arrive.

Of course, protected natural areas should be left out, Schär assured Schmidt.

Gmeiner added that the project, which is budgeted at 664,000 euros, is currently still being tendered.

Implementation is scheduled to begin at the beginning of October, and the first effects could then be seen in the summer of 2023.

Ranger project a complete success

According to Schär, the ranger project that was launched five years ago as part of the model region nature tourism funding program is already well established.

In addition to the district's two rangers, Alexander Römer and Anderl Köpfrl, there are also 30 freelancers working in the mountains for REO.

However, the latter are not allowed to collect any personal details and therefore cannot report any misconduct, Schär explained.

However, this would only be necessary in around five percent of cases anyway.

The broad mass of hikers, mountain bikers and ski tourers would react with great openness to the ranger's speech.

Proper communication is the focus.

Small gifts such as muesli bars or hiking maps would prove to be icebreakers.

"Without a connection to the people, the best specialist knowledge is of no help," said Römer.

Those involved found it all the more regrettable that there were no state subsidies for the costs of around 80,000 to 100,000 euros per year.

"It's difficult to manage that from the normal budget in the long run," emphasized Gmeiner.

Not to mention a certainly appropriate expansion.

District at the forefront when it comes to visitor management

Schmidt and Bär could not give hope here.

Such projects are not the responsibility of the federal government.

However, the spokesman for tourism policy confirmed that REO was at the forefront when it came to visitor management.

"That's something that can be taught in other regions," said Schmidt.

Sustainable behavior in nature is becoming more and more important to people, and it is important to continue to promote it.

"My green heart beats louder there," said the member of the Bundestag.

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Then he finally went on the long-awaited field trip with Bär and the two rangers.

They would decide spontaneously which destination they want to head for, said Römer and Hügel.

"Depending on the crowd."

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