Economy and tourism

With the "Program for the co-financing of regional model projects and cooperation in the area of economic and tourism promotion", the region provides thematic impetus and supports inter-municipal cooperation. The funding area was deliberately defined broadly with the topics of business and tourism. The aim is to create more joint projects. The entire region benefits from the synergies created.

The submission deadline for the 2024 call for proposals has expired. You will find the documents for the 2025 tender round here shortly.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economy, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2024:

• SB-Hofladen (98.000 Euro in funding)   
  • Participants: Fachschule für Landwirtschaft (FSL), Böblingen District Office; other stakeholders: agricultural businesses, Verein für landwirtschaftliche Fachbildung Herrenberg-Leonberg e.V., City of Herrenberg
  • Project: Development of a central farm shop to enable the population to buy regional products 24/7. From the concept to the operation, everything is developed by the students of the technical college: Selecting, procuring and setting up the self-service shop, working out the basics and the concept for stocking products (own and complementary), logistics, cold chains etc., the operating and marketing concept is developed in parallel and a co-operative is founded.
• Wanderregion Schwäbischer Wald (103.500 Euro in funding)
  • Participants: Rems-Murr district administration office (business and tourism department) and Schwäbischer Wald Tourismus e.V.; other stakeholders: nature park guide and forest warden Walter Hieber, Prof. Dr Manfred Krautter, municipalities in the Swabian Forest, German Hiking Institute, Regio Stuttgart Marketing- und Tourismus GmbH, Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V., Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V.
  • Project: Development and establishment of the ‘Swabian Forest Hiking Region’. The measures and tasks extend far beyond the trail infrastructure and include catering, accommodation and direct marketers. A public transport concept is also included. Through close cooperation, direct consultation and intensive communication on site, the aim is to achieve a joint brand orientation under the heading of ‘hiker-friendly hosts’ and thus strengthen inter-communal cooperation.
• Gemeinsame Tourismuskonzeption und -information Beuren/Neuffen (15.000 Euro in funding)
  • Participants: Municipality of Beuren and town of Neuffen, other stakeholders: Beuren thermal spa, Beuren open-air museum
  • Project: Joint development and marketing of the region's tourism USPs on the basis of a joint tourism concept and by pooling personnel capacities. Development and realisation of joint tourism information.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2023

• Inter-municipal start-up grant+ as part of the MachES network (105.000 euros in funding)
  • Participants: City of Filderstadt (Department of Economics and Marketing), City of Kirchheim u.T. (Office of Economic Development), City of Nürtingen (Office of Real Estate, Economic Development and Citizen Participation) and City of Esslingen am Neckar (Office of Economic Development and Esslingen Stadtmarketing und Tourismus GmbH).
  • Project: Financial support and strengthening of services for start-ups in the four municipalities according to uniform funding criteria. The aim is not only to increase the innovative strength and attractiveness of the joint project area, but also to reduce commercial vacancies and underutilization in the district centers and business parks.
• Mobile tourist information for the Bottwartal (29,075.20 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Marbach Bottwartal tourism association, 8 member municipalities
  • Project: Acquisition and equipping of an electric vehicle with appropriate marketing materials for joint permanent use as a flexible tourist information and tasting station by the Bottwartal municipalities and at supra-regional events/fairs such as the CMT.
• Cycle route along the "architecture stations" from the Remstal Garden Show with digital tour book (16,250 euros funding)
  • Participants: Remstal Tourismus e.V.
  • Project: Development of a themed cycle route along the architecture stations in the Rems Valley, including digital features and a reward system. The themed route from the Remstal Garden Show is to be enhanced and marketed by linking it with regional offers and producers (wine, gastronomy, culture).

The decision by the Committee for Economy, Infrastructure and Administration in 2014 marked the launch of the "Co-financing program for inter-municipal model projects in the area of economic and tourism promotion". Up to and including 2022, 34 projects have been funded, all of which will run beyond the funding period and are therefore sustainable. This record clearly exceeds initial expectations. The variety of projects ranges from premium walking trails and the marketing of regional products to an economic dashboard and a start-up district. Find out more about the exciting projects, clustered according to content focus:

To the overview of the projects and programs of the Verband Region Stuttgart