Southwest Saxony Is Set to Become a Tourist Magnet

Southwest Saxony is set to become a major tourist destination. The goal is to establish the Ore Mountains, the Vogtland, and the Chemnitz-Zwickau region as a “cross-border travel and adventure region in the heart of Europe,” said Minister of Culture and Tourism Barbara Klepsch (CDU) after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. A master plan exists for the region, which has been shaped by changes in the automotive industry.

120 Project Ideas for the Master Plan

Klepsch emphasized that 120 project ideas have already been compiled. Tourism is part of this effort. One proposal involves a ski and event center on the Fichtelberg. The area around the Göltzschtal Bridge in the Vogtland region—considered the world’s largest brick arch bridge—is to be developed for tourism. Another project focuses on health tourism in the region’s spa and resort towns. Cycling tourism is also on the agenda.

Tourism is expected to improve the quality of life for local residents

Klepsch argued that a tourism infrastructure always leads to an improvement in the quality of life for local residents. “Together with them, we want to ensure that the region’s strengths are highlighted and that new opportunities arise from them. The impressive figure of 190,000 people throughout Saxony who make their living directly and indirectly from tourism alone demonstrates the role that tourism plays as an economic force.”

Tourism Is a Major Economic Factor

According to Klepsch, studies show that tourism generates approximately 9.8 billion euros in revenue for Saxony. For the Ore Mountains alone, gross revenue is reported to be about 935 million euros per year. It provides livelihoods for about 20,000 people there. The tourism industry in the Vogtland region generates 356 million euros in revenue and provides an income for just under 9,000 people. 

High guest satisfaction ratings in the Ore Mountains and Vogtland

“The high level of guest satisfaction proves that the quality of the offerings is just right,” the report stated. The Ore Mountains scored 86.4 points and the Vogtland region 85.8 points on the satisfaction index. The scale goes up to 100 points. The region, which is best known for winter sports and hiking, plans to focus more on year-round tourism in the future in light of climate change. A state funding program is intended to provide support for this effort.