First tourism destinations Seefeld and Wagrain-Kleinarl as well as 27 tourism businesses receive awards

For more than 30 years, the Austrian Ecolabel has been Austria's most important state-approved environmental label. Since 1996, there has been a separate guideline for tourism businesses, which was expanded in subsequent years to include other categories such as gastronomy, campsites, travel offers or refuges.

Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler. Copyright by Enzo Holey.

"Ecolabel businesses show that climate-friendly business is successfully possible. Be it through environmentally friendly products, services or educational offers. In this way, tourism businesses in particular strengthen the regional economy, ensure that their guests feel completely at ease and contribute to climate protection. I am very pleased that many great businesses and even two entire tourism regions have joined the Ecolabel. I am confident that together we will be able to further develop life in our regions in a way that is fit for the future and worth living, both for guests and for the people who work and live here," said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler at the award ceremony in the Salonplafond at the MAK.

"Businesses and destinations play a key role in making Austria one of the most sustainable destinations in the world. At the level of tourism policy, we support, among other things, the national certification strategy - one of the four pillars of sustainability. With the Austrian Ecolabel, we make sustainability visible in all three dimensions - ecological, social and economic - drive change and create trust among our guests. I am pleased that more and more businesses are striving for Ecolabel certification and that the first two tourism destinations have also been certified," says State Secretary for Tourism Susanne Kraus-Winkler. She also calls on other businesses and destinations to take the step towards more sustainability.

Seefeld region - Tyrol's high plateau. Copyright by Enzo Holey.

Wagrain-Kleinarl. Copyright: Enzo Holey.

First tourism destinations awarded

The newly created Austrian Ecolabel for tourism destinations was awarded for the first time at the ceremony on 6 September. Region Seefeld – Tirols Hochplateau and Wagrain-Kleinarlare the first destinations to be real pioneers, who together bring more sustainability to their regions so that they become more liveable for guests and people in the region alike.

Camping and Country Hotel Berau at Lake Wolfgang. Copyright by Enzo Holey.

Hotel Garni ORGIS AM SEE with next generation :-) . Copyright by Enzo Holey.

19 environmentally friendly accommodation establishments

In the category of accommodation, hotels and private landlords, certificates were awarded to 19 companies. In addition to the Austrian Ecolabel, 13 companies received the EU Ecolabel for their activities, including the Hotel Goldener Berg in Lech in Vorarlberg. Incidentally, numerous businesses used the certification process to have themselves put to the test with regard to several guidelines - such as gastronomy, event catering and party service or conference and event location.

Dödlinger Touristik and Haus Sonne . Copyright by Enzo Holey.

Mountain refuges, campsites and travel offers also become ecological

The Alois Günther Haus in Styria has been awarded the distinction of being a mountain refuge and also the Austrian Ecolabel for catering establishments. Likewise, selected travel agencies have already included environmentally friendly and resource-saving trips in their offers. One example is Dödlinger Touristik GmbH in Tyrol, which recently started offering tours certified with the Austrian Ecolabel. The Camping und Landhotel Berau was able to receive several certificates at once: In addition to the Ecolabel and EU Ecolabel for accommodation establishments, also the certification for campsites and catering establishments.

Ecolabel tourism businesses. Copyright by Enzo Holey.