Greens: Sustainability must be the guiding principle for tourism

The Greens in the Saxon state parliament are calling for a greater focus on sustainability in tourism. The term must become a guiding principle, explained MP Thomas Löser. After all, climate change is already having a tangible impact on the offers in the Free State: "For many tourism businesses in Saxony, winter has long ceased to be a reliable business. A lack of snow, rising costs and uncertain seasons have become the new normal."

A tourism policy that consistently focuses on sustainability, adaptation to climate change and long-term management is all the more important, argued Löser. In his view, an answer from the Saxon government to a minor question from him remained too vague.

Greens call for more commitment in tourism policy

"A master plan and an action plan are good, but not an end in themselves. Not only in view of increasingly uncertain winters and the onset of the vacations, it is crucial that effective measures are developed that are measurable, financially backed and sustainable in all dimensions," emphasized the MP. This is precisely where the government's tourism policy shows clear weaknesses.

"Sustainability remains largely voluntary, non-binding and without a clear steering effect. The Free State is thus missing out on opportunities, which is negligent, especially in times of tight budgets," criticized Löser. A lot is announced, analyzed and monitored, but hardly prioritized. "There are neither binding target values nor a transparent allocation of funds."

Instruments for sustainability not yet sufficiently used

According to Löser, instruments such as sustainability criteria, mobility offers or guest taxes are recommended but not consistently used to actively manage tourism. In the case of year-round tourism, there is a lack of binding plans for the climate and environment, while the expansion of lake landscapes is being discussed without strategically safeguarding ecological sustainability and visitor management.

In February 2024, Saxony adopted a tourism master plan for the state. It describes requirements such as mobility and quality in harmony with the environment and the population in several fields of action. Sustainability is anchored as a core objective.

Saxon mining chief once coined the principle of sustainability

The Saxon mining chief Hans Carl von Carlowitz (1645-1714) is considered the "inventor" of sustainability. He developed sustainable forest management that only removes as much wood as can grow back.