Urban Development Through Tourism Boost
In a groundbreaking research project, the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt has been analyzing the urban development concepts of Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and Nuremberg, with a unique focus on hospitality as a strategic principle. The project, funded by the Bavarian Center for Tourism, began in September 2023 and has been developing new impulses for future-proof cities over about one and a half years.
However, a recent search for information on the key findings and proposed improvements from this project, known as the "Ecosystem of Hospitality," has yielded limited results. The materials found primarily include conference programs and general sustainability planning resources, but specific details about this research project and its outcomes remain elusive [1][2][3][4].
Despite this, the project's goals and methods are clear. The project team, which collaborated with IFG Ingolstadt, represented by Valentin Herbold, in Ingolstadt, has been examining the three metropolitan regions from various angles.
One of the common points emerging from the regional workshops was the need to better showcase historical buildings through targeted lighting. Integrating water into playgrounds and parks and facilitating year-round access to public gardens were also recurring themes.
Moreover, the project has emphasised that tourism can act as an "agent of change" by bringing together various actors in administration, culture, economy, and civil society. Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner, the project's leader, and Felix Hiemeyer, a project employee, both underscore that tourism is not an add-on in urban development but should always be considered as an enabling factor for various offers.
The regional workshop in Ingolstadt focused on three fields of action: conscious design of atmosphere, multidimensional use of space, and new leisure activities at the interface of nature and urbanity. Key issues discussed included more nature proximity, traffic congestion, vacancies, and the integration and revitalization of historical spaces.
The idea of supplementing static information boards on historical buildings with virtual reality applications received broad support. Harald Pechlaner sees great potential in Ingolstadt as a tourist city, emphasising the importance of making its history and transformation visible.
Felix Hiemeyer, project employee, believes that the participatory structure of the project will be helpful for the cities to implement the results. He envisions a culture of quality of life, where the boundaries between tourists and locals blur.
In times of tight municipal finances, it is important for tourism to think beyond just tourism themes and consider itself as an enabling factor for various offers. Harald Pechlaner sees the results as an ideal starting point for local politicians, as they show opportunities for significant improvements in the quality of life for both tourists and locals.
While specific findings and improvements from the project remain unavailable due to the limited search results, the project's basis - the model of the "Ecosystem of Hospitality," which combines space development for tourists and locals - offers a promising approach to urban development. If you have access to additional sources, such as project reports, academic papers, or presentations specifically related to the "Ecosystem of Hospitality" at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, further insights may be gleaned.
The 'Ecosystem of Hospitality' project at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, focusing on urban development, emphasizes the importance of improving home-and-garden amenities, such as public gardens and parks, to enhance the overall lifestyle of both tourists and locals. The project suggests integrating water into playgrounds and parks, and improving year-round access to public gardens, as key strategies for this improvement. Furthermore, the project encourages a lifestyle shift that blurs the boundaries between tourists and locals, envisioning a culture of quality life that values multidimensional use of space and new leisure activities at the interface of nature and urbanity.
