The visit represents a significant recognition of the consistent path Saalfelden Leogang has pursued over recent years. Today, the region is regarded internationally as a best practice example of how year-round tourism, premium visitor experiences and a high quality of life for local communities can be successfully combined.
Discussions with regional stakeholders focused primarily on strategies to reduce seasonal dependency while ensuring employment opportunities and economic value creation throughout the year. The delegation was particularly impressed by the diversity of mountain experiences available in Saalfelden Leogang. On the Austrian side, the visit was led by Ulrike Rauch-Keschmann, Head of the Tourism Section at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism.
Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni commented: "It was a great pleasure to visit Saalfelden Leogang, one of Austria’s leading mountain destinations and an outstanding example of the development of a comprehensive year-round tourism offering based on sustainable growth and the promotion of local identity. The development of mountain tourism is a high priority for the Greek Government. Mountain tourism can play a vital role in protecting our natural and cultural heritage while strengthening resilience to climate change. At the same time, it creates new opportunities for mountain communities across Europe and significantly enriches the visitor experience. During our discussions with the Austrian Government, it became clear that sustainable tourism development is a shared strategic priority for both countries. The exchange of best practices and expertise, as well as the development of modern standards for mountain tourism, will be key areas for future cooperation between our two countries."
Ulrike Rauch-Keschmann, Head of the Tourism Section at Austria’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism, added:
"The working visit of the Greek Minister of Tourism to Saalfelden Leogang demonstrates the strong international interest in Austria’s successful tourism models and the expertise we have developed in the sustainable development of mountain destinations. Saalfelden Leogang’s clear focus on year-round tourism is fully aligned with our new national tourism strategy, Vision T. Compared with many other European countries, Austria is already playing a pioneering role in this field."
Marco Pointner, Managing Director of Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbH, said:
"The visit of this high-level delegation is a great honour for us and demonstrates that Saalfelden Leogang’s successful development as a year-round destination and its diverse tourism offering are receiving international recognition. This achievement is the result of a collective effort across the entire region. Only through the close collaboration of our hosts, the mountain lift operators, tourism partners, local municipalities and residents can we consistently deliver high-quality experiences throughout the year and continue to develop Saalfelden Leogang sustainably."
Photo caption: From left to right: Marco Pointner, Managing Director of Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbH; Nadja Blumenkamp, Chair of the Leogang Tourism Association; Olga Kefalogianni, Greek Minister of Tourism; Hannes Riedlsperger, Chair of the Saalfelden Tourism Association; Kornel Grundner, Managing Director of Leoganger Bergbahnen. Credit: saalfelden-leogang.com / Michael Geißler
