Germany, the diverse travel destination, has launched its Autumn/Winter campaign, encouraging travellers to visit, explore and experience its sustainable and diverse culture. From unspoilt landscapes to authentic cuisine, urban attractions to historical locales, Germany is the ultimate European destination to travel sustainably.
The ‘Feel Good’ campaign encompasses a plethora of guiding tips highlighting the country’s eco initiatives providing conscious travellers with adequate tools and information on reducing their carbon footprint while touring different regions.
With the German Environment Agency having set the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent by 2030, and complete neutrality by 2045, the German National Tourism Board is consistently supporting this goal through various ongoing initiatives with one of them being the ‘Feel Good’ campaign.
Under the initiative, states and towns are highlighting their innovative transport solutions, pioneering examples of green architecture, and sprawling parks – all of which ensure an exciting city break that can be enjoyed eco-responsibly. Berlin has an abundance of green hotspots including vegan restaurants and alternative events within the city’s urban oasis; Winterberg in North Rhine-Westphalia is equipped with a sustainable guest management system; and Freiburg features a Plusenergy House, which aims to achieve the world’s best energy values for buildings and represents the efficiency standards expected in the future. The tranquil Black Forest in Deidesheim has long been known for being a hub for local food produce and handmade crafts, while Celle recently became a certified sustainable destination for its eco-friendly initiatives and practices.
“Modern travellers have become increasingly environmentally conscious and plan their trips to be sustainable,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “We have observed this behaviour of responsible travel, especially in the GCC travellers who seek eco-friendly and sustainable things to do.
“Germany’s ‘Feel Good’ campaign offers the right advice and tips to enjoy sustainability on the move in the country. Not only can travellers reduce their ecological footprint, but they can also calculate their carbon emissions through our CO2 calculator, ensuring their trip is climate neutral and as sustainable as possible.”
In addition to measuring carbon footprint of both air and car journeys using a CO2 calculator by myclimate.org, the ideal partner for effective climate protection, travellers can also sponsor carbon offset programmes in various countries around the world. These include providing cooking stoves for people in Kenya, reforestation assistance for Nicaraguan farmers, and much more. This compensation initiative was created to help positively shape the future of the world while making the trip as climate neutral as possible.
Juist: Getting Across the Island with One Horsepower
A certified sustainable destination, the island of Juist is committed to climate protection by adapting several eco-friendly initiatives. The island has banned the use of cars and the preferred mode of transport is horse-drawn carriage. Visitors are required to park their vehicle on the mainland to offset the emissions of their journey to and from Juist. Life on the island moves slow, allowing visitors to enjoy and relax in a stress-free environment.
Saarland: Right in the Middle of Nature
Saarland, Germany’s smallest federal state, was the first to be certified as a sustainable destination by TourCert, a non-profit organisation for tourism certification. Almost 66 per cent of Saarland is under nature conservation, providing a haven for rare and protected species. It boasts impressive hiking and cycling trails leading through the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park, the Bliesgau UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with its unique orchid trail, and the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. Visitors can experience unspoilt nature at close quarters: carefully, responsibly, and up close.
High Black Forest: A Vast Unspoilt Landscape
Certified as a sustainable destination by TourCert, High Black Forest boasts deep forests, breath-taking views, crystal-clear lakes, and gushing waterfalls. Travellers can take a break by spending a wonderful night guided by eco-certified hosts and embracing the surrounding nature in its purest form. Activities include hiking, cycling, e-biking, swimming, climbing, golfing, boating, shopping, and experiencing culture in the Upper Black Forest, travellers can explore the region as well as lend a hand at the rustic farms within.
Barrier-free Tourism: New Levels of Accessibility
Travellers searching for barrier-free travel can enjoy a plethora of options in Germany, with the European country prioritising, and widely investing in, accessible leisure and tourism facilities.
Germany has a wide range of adventurous offerings for travellers seeking increased levels of accessibility and its ‘Tourism For All’ initiative makes it even more straight forward to find them. Split into seven types of visitors: reduced mobility; wheelchair users; impaired hearing; deafness, visually impaired; blindness; and learning difficulties, the site also includes further information for guests with allergies and can be searched by type of activity they’re keen to enjoy or area they are visiting.
Germany has a broad range of other locations and activities also available for travellers to explore.