Environmental label for the Seefeld region

Excellent! As of now, the Seefeld region holds the Austrian Eco-Label for tourism destinations. The Seefeld region – Tirol's high plateau – is the first region ever to be awarded the Austrian Eco-Label for tourism destinations. The official presentation of the quality seal will be made by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). The Austrian Eco-Label is recognized as a certificate to make sustainable action tangible and measurable while creating sustainable awareness.

"The awarding of the Austrian Eco-Label is an important milestone in our years-long journey to offer forward-looking tourism," says Alois Seyrling, chairman of the Seefeld Tourism Association. All involved actors, from the tourism association (TVB) to local politics to local businesses and the Karwendel Nature Park, are very proud of this milestone, but at the same time, they see it only as another step towards a sustainable, environmentally conscious future for the region.

"We are proud to be the first and to be able to take on a pioneering role here," says TVB managing director Elias Walser. This role is also attributed to TVB by Ing. Christoph Schaffenrath from the Environmental Office in Telfs: "The TVB Seefeld has taken on an absolute pioneering role. And with it, the entire region is now committing to its ecological responsibility for the preservation of an intact environment as the basis of life for our society and future generations." The environmental expert sees the region's strength in the fact that the municipalities actively exchange ideas with each other and thus benefit from one another.

This close cooperation was a prerequisite for applying for the Austrian Eco-Label for tourism destinations. "One does not obtain the eco-label for destinations alone, neither as a municipality nor as a tourism association. It is awarded to the region as a whole and only when all actors collaborate," explains Walser, who is glad that all parties are so united behind the concept of sustainability.

This includes not only local politics and the TVB but also the Regional Management Innsbruck Land led by Albuin Neuner, which is a key partner particularly in energy and climate protection issues, as large inter-regional concepts are needed here. "We are already well on the way," says Neuner. "The certification of the Seefeld region with the eco-label is very valuable for both raising awareness and for its exemplary effect outwardly." The local businesses also want to be role models and sharpen awareness – led by the Plateau Pioneers: The tourism association, the Karwendel Nature Park, and six hotel businesses are part of this group and demonstrate how sustainability can work. Two of them, the "Naturhotel aufatmen" and the "Biohotel Leutascherhof", have also just been awarded the eco-label and the EU Ecolabel. The other hotels (Alpenhotel Karwendel, Lärchenhof Natur, Hotel Bergland, Hotel Klosterbräu) are currently in the application process.

Thus, environmental awareness, nature conservation, and tourism in the Seefeld region are already working hand in hand in many areas. Anton Heufelder, managing director of the Karwendel Nature Park, increasingly notes this: "The certification of the Seefeld region with the eco-label fits extremely well with the partnership with the nature park. We can truly be proud that we have achieved a unity between the nature park and tourism."

The joy of being the first bearer of the eco-label for tourism destinations is felt across the entire plateau. However, none of the participants wants to rest on their laurels. The focus is on the future: "Of course, I am especially proud that this award has been received as the first region," says Georgios Chrysochoidis, mayor of the municipality of Leutasch. "But I hope that many more destinations will join us on this path." His colleague from Scharnitz, Christian Ihrenberger, is aware of the exemplary role: "Carrying the eco-label means living responsibility for our region above all." This attitude is shared by Raphael Chrysochoidis, coordinator for living space and sustainability in the TVB, who co-initiated the eco-label process and repeatedly brought all partners to the table: "Today’s awarding is a milestone, yes, but far from the end. On the contrary, it motivates and commits us to consistently pursue our path into the future."