Really. Good. Sustainable! The North Eifel
Our Strategy & location
The content of the work of the North Eifel Tourism GmbH is concentrated on the tourism and marketing concept from 2015-2020 In order to meet the multi-layered, multi-faceted and complex issue of sustainability, it is necessary to understand the issue of contributing to the sustainable development of the region. It is important to maintain the sustainability principles established in the strategy of tourism region and turn them into specific offers. The background for this is clear. As part of the Eifel high hill region and home of the Eifel National Park, the North Eifel dominates as a nature-orientated touristic offer. In addition the entire area is situated in the backdrop of the Rhineland and North Eifel nature parks. Currently, the tourism and marketing concept will be extended to 2025. Touristic sustainability is the "centrepiece".
Touristic infrastructure
The Eifel has evolved in recent years into a major natural experience region on the doorstep of the big cities. After receiving the special "Sustainable tourism regions" prize in the biodiversity national competition of 2012/2013, the North Eifel tourist operators have jointly dedicated themselves to strengthening sustainable development.
This is how the tourist infrastructure was developed bit by bit. The result is the fully accessible "Wilder Kermeter" Nature Adventure Region with the "Wilderness Path" . To ensure that the quality of the hiking offers increases, also in consideration of the demographic change to create a sustainable hiking trail network, the project "Hiking world of the future - Eifel loops & Eifel traces" has been implemented. The 112 brand new hiking trails are now in use.
Younger, more adventurous guests can stay overnight during their trekking tour on remote natural campsites surrounded by nature.
Sustainable projects
The Eifel National Park was officially awarded the title of Star Park. At the same time, a comprehensive campaign with specific measures to reduce light pollution in the region was implemented. With the success of the contribution "Under the stars - Eifel at Night" the North Eifel Nature Park succeeded in winning at the Nature Park Competition of NRW 2021, the region remains committed to uphold the natural night in the Eifel and creating touristic experiences in the coming years.
Optimisation Initiative for Hospitality Businesses
In the businesses of the hospitality industry potential savings in the area of heating and electricity consumption often lie dormant. The Eifel Energy agency in the structural and economic development of the District of Euskirchen welcomes all companies of this industry in the North Eifel, to take part in its initiative. It helps to uncover savings opportunities and potential capacities, and to find optimal solutions for businesses. With this your energy costs are permanently reduced and you remain competitive.
For sustainable tourism commitment, the North Eifel was honoured as a finalist at the "Federal Competition 2016/17 -Sustainable Tourism Destinations” in the middle of June 2017, and belongs to one of the five most sustainable tourist regions of Germany.
With its innovative product development on "natural night experience" the North Eifel Tourism GmbH won the NRW Tourism Innovation Competition 2019. With the touristic presentation of the night, the region would like to strengthen their position as a sustainable destination.
Tourist Mobility
In the field of mobility 19 German national railway stations and halting stops were created as Cycle and Hike Railway Stations. In addition the guest pass was introduced, which offers free travel with the VRS and AVV Public Transport Companies and special rates at tourist destinations. The guest pass won the Destination Nature Award in the autumn 2018. As a permanent mobility offer the Eifelsteig hiking bus runs on weekends, public holidays and long weekends in the North Eifel. With this hiking guests on the Eifelsteig are offered additional convenience. Since 2019, in addition to the Eifelsteig hiking bus, the North Eifel hike & cycle bus runs as a public service with a trailer and room for 16 bikes / pedelecs. Other public services for tourists are provided from railway stations by the Zülpich and Bad Münstereifel CityBus and TaxiBusPlus, and to the Kommern LVR Open Air Heritage Museum. In cooperation with the District of Euskirchen, a mobility concept for tourists has also been implemented. Owners of electric vehicles and pedelecs can find numerous charging facilities at locations in the North Eifel.
Our Network
To strengthen domestic marketing an internal model was developed. An action day “Guest in your own homeland” and the networking event "North Eifel NeTWorking” takes place annually
In cooperation with tourist operators, Route teams and product groups take place in the North Eifel. In regular exchanges the areas of marketing, products and quality are intensively reviewed, with emphasis on sustainable aspects. As part of the innovation workshop of the State of NRW and the Eifel Tourism Workshop operators are trained in all questions for the future of tourism.
Entrepreneurs of tourist businesses are fully informed by tourism professionals and economic developers on the consulting days. The project "successor in the hospitality industry" supports hosts at the transfer stage. In addition a campaign for potential investors is addressed.
Sustainability business office
The North Eifel Tourism GmbH office has been awarded the title of 1st grade quality business by the initiative “service quality of Germany”and has been integrated in the annual action planning of sustainable aspects. Operated by North Eifel Tourism GmbH, the Gemünd National Park Gate has been awarded the I-brand of the German Tourist Board and awarded with the certification "Travel for All". All premises of the office and the National Park gate are regularly examined as part of an energy audit.
For the development of skilled workers, the office trains interns for positions in the tourist and leisure vocation. In addition, many students complete their multi-month internship at the North Eifel Tourism GmbH. Students opt for 1-day to multi-day internships at the office in Kall and the Gemünd National Park Gate.
The North Eifel Tourism GmbH brochures and leaflets are printed on FSC climate neutral paper. The office and the Gemünd National Park Gate are supplied with 100% eco-electricity. In the area of resource conservation and environmental responsibility the various homepages such
www.nordeifel-tourismus.de are hosted on a climate-friendly server.
Sustainability pays off
Sustained commitment also has a positive influence economically. A recent report of the German Economic Institute for Tourism in Munich (dwif) impressively demonstrates the region's role as a day trip and short-holiday destination.
Particularly impressive is the positive development that the can be traced in previous testimonies by “dwif” from 2011 and 2014.
For 2017 there was a total of 1.29 million overnight stays (2011: 1.04 million, 2014: 1.26 million) from holiday apartments to 4-star hotels, and 10,2 million days trips (2011: 7 million, 2014: 7.4 million).
The testimony states that the catering and accommodation businesses benefit from tourism with
€ 141.7 million (2011: € 104 million, 2014: € 118 million), retail sales of € 166.1 million (2011: € 79.8 million, 2014:€96.4million) and other services with € 70.6 million (2011: €38.7 million, 2011: €47.8 million.)
Overall, the amount of day and overnight guests result in a gross turnover of € 378.million per year (2011: €229 million, 2014: €262 million). Compared to 2011, this is an increase of daily tourism by 89% and of overnight tourism by 31%.
