Ecotourism in the Gesäuse National Park

Diploma thesis at the University of Applied Sciences Joanneum Graz The results show that approaches are already in place in the sense of ecotourism, such as the initiatives Xeismobil and National Park Partners. In addition to the offers of the National Park and the Nature Park, these projects can only be seen as mosaic stones within a focus on ecotourism. Ecotourism, however, involves more than just offering nature experience and alternative means of transport. Ecotourism also means a healthy relationship between the actors, an alignment or reconciliation of interests, the development of compromises, a balance in the system. And especially in this area, the tourism region Gesäuse National Park has a lot to catch up. Conflicts and competitions of individual institutions not only prevent cooperation, but also prevent the installation of a joint tourism association and thus a common strategy, effective marketing. While joint marketing is just one of the steps to live up to the idea of ecotourism, it’s certainly the one that needs to be pushed. With regard to the potentials in the area, numerous small-scale cooperations are a sign that farms in this region are willing to cooperate on a common strategy. The tourist attractions, such as the Admont Abbey, the National Park and the natural park offers a high potential, as they attract numerous day visitors. However, the aim must be to attract these day guests for a longer stay and that is precisely where the region’s recognisability as a unit begins. It is also striking for the area that it is characterised by individual initiatives such as those of the Nature Park, National Parks, Admont Abbey and Xeismobil. If this worker could be bundled in the sense of a common umbrella organisation, the author sees an opportunity to position herself as a region.