Sauerland Tourism Emphasizes Dialogue and Exchange

Enhancing visibility, ensuring quality, and further expanding cooperation in the region: These topics were the focus of the general meeting and the subsequent Sauerland Forum 2026 organized by Sauerland-Tourismus e.V. Representatives from the tourism sector, local governments, businesses, and partner organizations gathered at Hellermanns Hütte in Schmallenberg-Gellinghausen at the Green Hill Bikepark to assess current developments, discuss shared challenges for the future, and further deepen dialogue within the industry.

Review and Strategic Assessment

The general meeting provided a concise review of the past fiscal year as well as key activities, marketing initiatives, and funding projects undertaken by Sauerland-Tourismus. Subsequently, the Sauerland Forum shifted its focus more toward the future: visibility, quality, and collaboration emerged as central themes for the region’s future tourism development.

The Sauerland Forum that followed took up these key questions and deliberately adopted an open, practical format. In a relaxed atmosphere, the program offered expert insights, concrete examples from the region, and ample opportunity for personal discussions. This fostered a lively exchange that not only brought current topics to light but also focused on networking among the stakeholders.

“The Sauerland stands on a strong foundation when it comes to tourism. What’s crucial now is that we pool our resources even more effectively and work together on visibility, quality, and relevant offerings,” emphasized Philipp Scharfenbaum, Chairman of Sauerland Tourism. “To do this, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder with the towns, businesses, and our partners. After all, the region’s future can only be shaped through collaboration.”

Exchange, Practical Examples, and New Ideas

In addition to various best-practice examples, a panel discussion featuring voices from the tourism industry provided substantive input. Topics included the quality of tourism offerings, changing guest expectations, and the question of how tourism must evolve at various levels—from individual businesses to municipalities and regions, all the way up to the state tourism association. It became clear that sustainable tourism requires attractive products, reliable quality, clear responsibilities, and close collaboration among stakeholders.

The panel discussion also highlighted just how diverse the perspectives within the industry are and how valuable it is to exchange ideas on these topics. Businesses, destinations, and overarching tourism organizations each face their own challenges but share a common goal: to further develop the Sauerland as a vibrant destination for vacations, leisure, and living.

The practical examples presented, in turn, demonstrated the diversity of approaches already in use in the region today. The focus included, among other things, successful collaborations between hosts, approaches to the systematic mapping and further development of tourism infrastructure as part of the “GRENZENLOS” funding project, new ideas for day tourism, as well as current requirements in the areas of sustainability and communication regarding the EmpCo guideline, which has been mandatory since the end of September. The examples made it clear that many ideas arise directly from real-world practice—where businesses, towns, and partners work together to develop solutions, improve offerings, and reach new target groups.

“With the Sauerland Forum, we deliberately aim to create a framework that combines expert input with personal exchange,” explained Dr. Jürgen Fischbach, Managing Director of Sauerland Tourism. “The discussions between program items are particularly valuable because that’s where concrete ideas emerge: for collaborations, for joint marketing, and for an even stronger external presence for the Sauerland.”

The conclusion of the day was correspondingly positive: Sauerland-Tourismus, together with its members, sees itself as well-positioned to actively tackle current challenges and to further develop the Sauerland as an attractive destination for vacations, leisure, and living that is fit for the future.

Download the press release as a PDF here.

Press Contact:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Phone: 02974-969830, Email: presse@sauerland.com