LH Mikl-Leitner: “Regionality, sustainability and the quality of our products are our calling card”
St. Pölten (OTS) – Numerous local producers, tourism professionals, hoteliers and guests from the world of gastronomy, business and politics, including State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler, accepted the Vienna Woods Tourism’s invitation to the network event “More regionality for your guest” today, Monday Perchtoldsdorf Castle. According to the governor, events like today’s network meeting are important for the success of Lower Austria as a tourism region, because “those who make this success possible network here.”
The Lower Austrian hosts, catering and leisure businesses and regional producers “ensure the success of Lower Austria as a holiday destination every day with their work, with charm, hard work and upholding our traditions,” said Mikl-Leitner, who emphasized: “Regionality, Sustainability and the quality of our products are our calling card.” 2023 was a “year of upswing in Lower Austrian tourism,” as the overnight stay figures show: “7.3 million overnight stays in Lower Austria, an increase of 11.6 percent compared to the previous year, especially December was particularly pleasing with the early snowfall and numerous events with 438,000 overnight stays.” Over the next four years, a variety of measures will be used to create 4,000 more beds in the state, because “that brings added value to the state and helps us to achieve our goal “To further develop Lower Austria from an excursion destination to a holiday destination.”
Further measures as part of the “Tourism Strategy 2025” are dedicated to topics such as cycling, culture, cuisine and wine, and cycling in particular has become increasingly popular in recent years. Mikl-Leitner: “We are constantly investing in the quality and expansion of our cycle paths and already have the top 10 cycle routes, which is 1,500 kilometers of high, tested quality.” A further 4,000 kilometers are planned to make Lower Austria a “cycling destination in the heart of Europe”.
In addition, the topic of cuisine is being promoted, because “this forms another important focus with our pub culture, wine culture and regional product culture,” explained the state governor. The Lower Austrian tavern culture in particular is a quality brand, “where our innkeepers combine innovation with tradition and the typical Lower Austrian hospitality.” That is why the state supports local innkeepers with the “Innkeeper Package, a success story since the start, where we have received more than 190 applications for investment funding “We have received this and are investing more than 20 million euros,” says Mikl-Leitner.
Another measure is in the area of tourism advertising, “where we are expanding our focus towards our neighboring countries of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.” Here she particularly thanked the Vienna Woods Tourism and Lower Austrian Advertising for their initiatives.
Mikl-Leitner concluded: “We all have to try out what is available in our state, because with the knowledge and enthusiasm we have gained we can convince others to come on holiday with us.”
State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler emphasized that “tourism is an important part of Austria’s economy because it brings prosperity, quality of life and economic performance.” Culinary food is also one of the most important topics in Austria’s advertising, because alongside leisure, nature and culture it is the most important Travel motivation for foreign guests to our country. Austrian cuisine in particular, which is characterized by high-quality, regional food, represents the highest level of authenticity. “Around 70 percent of family businesses in our country are responsible for this, and we must value and preserve them,” says Kraus-Winkler.
Also speaking were Michael Wollinger, Managing Director of Wienerwald Tourismus, the chairman of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, Johanna Tröber, and Mario Pulker and Markus Grießler from the Lower Austria and Vienna Chambers of Commerce, who considered the event in Perchtoldsdorf Castle to be “incredibly important,” “because there is gastronomy and… regional producers come into direct contact.” Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce particularly emphasized the importance of a close partnership between regional producers from both federal states, “especially for the conference city of Vienna, where organic and regional products are in high international demand,” said Grießler. “According to a current survey, 55 percent of local restaurateurs already buy and use regional products, and 55 percent of guests expect regional products,” explained Pulker.
The networking meeting was embedded in a culinary fair, which was rounded off with numerous lectures and regional tastings.
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Doris Zöger
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presse@noel.gv.at
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