Top Trails of Germany Hiking Future Workshop

From June 17 to 19, representatives of the Top Trails of Germany gathered for the 4th Future Workshop on Hiking—and Rothaarsteig was there too! This year’s event was hosted by the WesterwaldSteig. The focus was on current trends in hiking tourism and the question of how Germany’s leading long-distance hiking trails can continue to offer attractive and sustainable hiking experiences in the future.

Representatives from Germany’s most renowned long-distance hiking trails came together to discuss current developments and collaborate on new solutions. The focus was on sustainability, sponsorship, and partnerships, as well as collaboration with the association a tip: tap e. V. In addition, the Future Workshop provided a space to present successful practical examples and further develop them together.

A key focus was the sustainable design of hiking offerings. Among other things, discussions centered on measures for sustainable infrastructure, new communication strategies, sustainable offerings along the trails, and ways to raise visitors’ awareness of responsible stewardship of nature and the landscape. The goal is not only to communicate sustainability along the Top Trails but also to make it a tangible experience for hikers.

Another key topic was the long-term financing of high-quality hiking offerings. Drawing on successful real-world examples, participants exchanged ideas about sponsorship and partnership models and collaboratively developed ideas on how to ensure and further enhance the quality of the trails in the future.

During the Future Workshop, the official launch of a joint collaboration with the association a tip: tap e. V. also took place. The goal is to further expand the supply of free drinking water along the hiking trails and thereby make another contribution to sustainable hiking tourism. The Rothaarsteig has already listed numerous businesses on the “Map of Tomorrow,” which can be filtered using the hashtag #rothaarsteig.

The Future Workshop once again highlighted the particular strength of the Top Trails of Germany: the continuous exchange within a strong network. Together, the partners develop solutions to current challenges, share experiences, and replicate successful projects in other regions. In this way, shared ideas give rise to concrete measures that directly benefit hikers along the trails.

Download the press release as a PDF here.

Press Contact:

Ilka Robke, Rothaarsteigverein e.V.
Im Ohle 12, 57392 Schmallenberg
Phone: 02974-9692890, Email: info@rothaarsteig.de