Zell Am See-Kaprun Awarded Sustainability Seal "Best Tourism Villages By UNWTO".
Zell am See-Kaprun has been awarded the UNWTO sustainability seal "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO".32 selected tourism destinations worldwide with a strong focus on sustainability were awarded. Zell am See-Kaprun is one of the award winners from over 57 countries.
Municipalities with a maximum of 15,000 inhabitants were evaluated by an international jury of experts in the areas of cultural and natural resources, sustainability, regional added value, infrastructure and health and safety.
From Austria to Vietnam, 32 travel destinations from all over the world have been named "Best Tourism Villages 2022" by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The winning destinations stand for sustainable tourism. As a climate and energy tourism focus region, Zell am See-Kaprun scored well with its high level of commitment and the numerous measures against climate change, as well as with innovative projects such as the Team4U project, which also won 3rd place in this year's Austrian Innovation Prize for Tourism (category "Inter-company Cooperations") achieved. Governor Dr. Wilfried Haslauer congratulates on this special award.
Tourism as a motor for rural development and integration
The award recognizes rural regions and destinations that use tourism as an engine for development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products. The initiative recognizes communities that are committed to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects - economic, social and environmental - and focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmentally friendly travel and sustainable holidays in Zell am See-Kaprun
Our nature and the scenic beauty of the region is the greatest asset, so numerous sustainability measures are taken to preserve this for future generations. The goal is clear: Our region wants to develop into a tourism model region in terms of climate and energy. In this project, the region is supported by climate and energy funds and can proudly call itself one of two first-time award-winning climate and energy tourism focus regions (KEM). The KEM implementation concept is based on a total of eleven focal points, which are currently coming into focus in the course of a three-year implementation period. Mobility is an important part of the program. CO2-free holidays and the Pinzgau mobility card are intended to create sustainable mobility solutions.
Dr Erich Egger, CEO Schmittenhöhebahn AG said: “Acting in harmony with nature is clearly in the foreground at the Schmittenhöhebahn. That's why it's important to us to do pioneering work in cable car technology and, above all, in environmental protection. This includes that we voluntarily subject ourselves to the high requirements of the EMAS guidelines of the EU - as currently the only cable car company in Austria. We are constantly improving our environmental performance, be it through the increased use of photovoltaic systems and e-vehicles or through ever new measures in the area of energy or resource efficiency. Our commitment to the careful use of our valuable natural landscape is also reflected in the supply of 100 percent green electricity from Salzburg AG.”
Ing. Norbert Karlsböck, CEO of Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG: “Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG has triple ISO certification in all areas of the company – for outstanding quality, energy and environmental management. In addition to synergy effects from long-term cooperation with the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Salzburg Institute for Ecology and several research institutions, the focus is on energy efficiency, environmental protection and renewable energy sources. In 2022, our Grubbach small power plant was expanded to include a third turbine, increasing hydroelectric power generation to 1.3 million kWh per year. Since this winter we have been operating the snow groomers on the nearby family mountain Maiskogel with fossil-free HVO fuel and have reduced CO2 emissions in this area by 85%.
Mag. Renate Ecker, Tourism Director Zell am See-Kaprun: “We are very happy about the UNWTO award for Best Tourism Village. This award confirms that we must constantly promote sustainability in tourism. In recent years we have implemented many projects relating to sustainability: the Pinzgau mobility card, we can proudly call ourselves the KEM region and more than 20 companies in our region are currently in the certification process for the Austrian eco-label. We are constantly trying to advance and expand these projects and many others in order to preserve our natural paradise between glacier, mountain and lake for future generations.”
For more information on the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative, visit: www.unwto.org/tourism-villages
