"NETS" - Workshops

Railway

Wedelweiss - offered by the Austrian Railway (ÖBB)
Skiing with Wedelweiss and Snow and Fun.Trips by motorail.
More information: www.oebb.at

Skiing - Transfer to Austria
According to a market analysis of the Österreich Werbung, Belgian skiers visit Austria mainly by car (70%), because there are no attractive alternative offers. The project "TRESKi" wants to be this sustainable and environmentally sound alternative to visit Tyrol`s skiing destinations. Cooperating with the Belgian Railway and the Tirol Werbung, packages have been developed that offer a transfer from the guest`s railway station to the tyrolean hotel. About 15.000 People are estimated to visit Austria like this, a number that corresponds to about 6.000 cars. (bulletin, 07/2006)

Offers that have performed best in the NETS award competition:

Category "mountains"

Carfree tourism in Werfenweng
The model project ’Soft Mobility - Car-free Tourism’ has been operating since 1998, and was conducted by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture & Forestry, Environment & Water Management and Economy & Employment, the two model communities Bad Hofgastein and Werfenweng, and the Federal State of Salzburg - with the support of the EU. It aims to establish new standards in the field of mobility, thus improving both, the quality of life and the quality of holidays.

Thanks to a group of ambitious local accommodation suppliers, who support car-free mobility, holidaymakers have the opportunity to exchange their car keys for the "SAMO-key". Tourists can already arrive at the destination without car: the mobility centre ’mobilito’ in Bischofshofen ensures an unbroken chain of services from the own front door right to the holiday destination. The mobility of the guests is guaranteed at all times by the availability of electrical cars, taxis, buses, ... and the taxi ’Elois’.
The success of this venture is reflected in the demand of the "SAMO-key", which has increased threefold over the last three years.

Carfree hiking week
The project "Valley Coaches" in the Lungau-Murau-Nockberge region enables guests to go on holiday without their car. Approximately 20 valleys are connected via this outstanding bus system. Apart from classical coaches also electro vehicles, which are free of emissions, are in use. The necessary road network has been developed to connect two national parks (Hohe Tauern and Nockberge), three natural parks (Riedingtal, Sölktäler, Grebenzen) and several protected areas.
Also the price is very attractive because of the regional mobility card. By using the tram "Murradler" the tourist’s journey turns out into a theme trip: Guests have the opportunity to taste regional products of the eco-region Murau. Mobility on site is guaranteed by the excellent connection of shuttle services and several means of public transport. Guests will enjoy a comfortable and recreative holiday experience close to nature.

Category "nature conservation areas"

Fahrtziel Natur: Nationalpark Hainich
The "German Railways", in cooperation with the "Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz", has developed a project called "Fahrtziel Natur". When booking the tour package "Fahrtziel Natur - National Park Hainich" the return ticket from any place in Germany is limited to a fare of 69 Euro with the "BahnCard" (2nd Class). Transfers from the hotel to the train station and guiding tours through the park are included. Due to this attractive fare, this innovative project in particular has achieved to convince more tourists to travel by train rather than coming by car in order to visit the park. The tour package has been created for the purpose of strengthening the name recognition of national and nature parks, which are of high interest for tourism in Germany. This holiday trip is offered in AMEROPA catalogues as well as in brochures of "Fahrtziel Natur". This innovative project has lead the way to iniciate the drafting of similar tour packages in other protected areas.

Destination Baikal Lake by Transsibirian railway

The philosophy of sustainable travel embraced by the organisation "Bund Naturschutz Service GmbH" finds expression in a variety of attractive offers. The organisation aims to establish travelling by train for long-distance tours, especially to less-developed tourism destinations. The usage of the train goes far beyond the common position of a means of transport. In this package travelling by train is rather an integrated part of the holiday. Detailed and descriptive travel reading helps the tourist to get well-prepared for the trip already in advance. The tourists should get curious to explore the country and its culture, such as regional cuisine, Russian architecture and interesting sights to visit. They will also have the opportunity to meet local residents and to get acquainted with their Russian mentality.
This kind of providing environmental education while travelling represents just one way of making the destination more familiar and to broaden the tourists’ knowledge about the area.

Category "countryside"

The Schmalspur Classic Package
With the tour package "Schmalspur Classic 2005", the "Naturhotel Steinschalerhof" aims to increase the number of guests travelling by train. This overall objective can be achieved by including train tickets in the arrangement from Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Upper Austria: Guests who arrive by car pay the same price for the inclusive offer and have to cover their travel expenses on their own. The package contains a three-day programme including several train trips and excursions, etc.
Another aim to be achieved with this innovative arrangement is to support and assure the on-going operation of the oldest electric narrow gauge mountain railway of the world called "Mariazellerbahn. This heritage site has to be maintained and supported in a sustainable way.

Bayerwald Ticket

The Day Pass "Bayerwald Ticket" for the use of means of public transport has been created to reduce the individual traffic and to increase the capacity of the existing bus and train services in the national and natural park Bayerischer Wald. The county district supports this initiative by communicating, co-ordinating and synchronising five regional transport services of different suppliers. Particular attention is paid to the tram "Waldbahn". Special activities, such as "KulTOUR" and art events increase the attractiveness of using the tram. Various brochures give tips for activities, which are coordinated with the schedule. Suppliers from the fields of tourism, gastronomy, leisure facilities and glass industry are in close co-operation and offer reductions to visitors. The main objective is not only to develop public transport in the region but also to achieve a high acceptance of it.

Category "cities"

Lübeck individual
The new holiday package "Lübeck individual" gives visitors the opportunity to explore Lübeck without car. This offer travelling by train raises the attractiveness of Lübeck as a popular destination for individual short stays and comfortable city tours: At the beginning of the tour the guests receive a small radio and a magazine about Lübeck as an interesting holiday reading; on the way back the passengers can relish a tasty packed lunch. Holiday starts already at home - the guests will arrive at their holiday destination in a relaxing and environmentally friendly way.
This three-day programme includes the "Happy Day Card" for the free use of public transport in Lübeck and Travemünde and several reductions for the guests. The trip is bookable for any day of the week, an extension of the length of stay is possible

World Cultural Heritage in Bohemia
The intention of the tour operator "Begegnung mit Böhmen" is to offer its clients to experience specific and authentic everyday life in the Czech Republic. The tourists will visit known as well as unknown cities and villages that are awarded with the UNESCO-certificate "World Heritage Site". Typical charter coaches for city trips are intentionally excluded since particularly travelling by train offers a unique cultural and social insight: The guests will have the opportunity to meet and speak with local people.
The small tourist party is accompanied by a high-educated art historian and a specialist in German studies. There will occur encounters with residents and welcoming dinners with music in museums and pubs.
The package "World Heritage Site in Bohemia" offers an interesting and exciting way of making cultural tours from place-to-place by train.

Category "sun, beach and sea"

Sapori Cilentani - Taste the Cilento
The Cilento region and its "UNESCO World Heritage Site" Castellabate is a touristically almost untouched region in the South of Italy. The area is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches, cliffy steep coasts, ancient villages, wild mountain areas and a delicious cuisine.
Although the journey to Cilento takes quite long, time seems to "fly" thanks to the direct train connection Munich-Naples. The guests get a one-week travelcard for the use of the public transport. This travelcard guarantees mobility for walking tours, boat excursions, sightseeing tours and picknicks. The tour package offers a highly comfortable and exciting way of travelling for the guests. It is an excellent alternative to the travel to such destinations by classical means of transport, which is usually the airoplane. This offer has also been awarded the "Goldene Palme" lead by "Geo-Saison". ReNatour is also a member of "forum anders reisen", an association of German tour operators comitted to sustainable tourism.

Further offers
	Alpine Pearls The network "Alpine Pearls" is the result of two programmes by the European Union (Alps Mobility and II-Alpine Pearls). The focus of the project is the creation of innovative, sustainable offers that combine the demands of touristic use with the demands of soft mobility and environmentally friendly transport. The border-crossing network between 17 municipalities in Italy, Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland can be seen as an award for extraordinary holiday experiences.
	Xeismobil The concept of "Xeismobil" is to implement a regional mobility information system for locals and tourists. "Xeismobil", which is part of the EU co-financed project "Alpine Mobility Management", is meant to develop into a comprehensive information and service centre for regional transport and mobility in the region of the Nationalpark "Gesäuse", Styria.
	Charterzug - Urlaubsexpress Salzburg The concept of a "Holiday-express Salzburger Land" was generated by the mobility-centre Pongau ("mobilito"). The aim of the project is to install a charter transport by rail which should help to reduce traffic jams and emissions caused by holiday traffic in the county of Salzburg, Austria. Not only environmental issues but also new standards of comfort for tourists are the ambitious focus. The vacationers in the charter train get support services and will be treated with regional specialities from the county Salzburg.
	ICE-Hotel "Each train is a holiday train!" This is the slogan of "ICE-Hotel". This offer enables tourists to take advantage of travelling from several places in Germany to the Swiss destination "Jungfrau" without having to change trains. Local mobility at the Swiss destinations is guaranteed by price-reduced means of public transport. Each year the number of customers has increased, which gives evidence of the good co-operation between the Swiss destinations and the "German Railways".
	nature conservation areas
	Studiosus-Reise Cinque Terre The overall objective of the tour operator "Studiosus" is to inform tourists about social and sociopolitical connections and environmental aspects in an exciting way during the journey. With this model project the tour operator is able to offer walking tours in combination with cultural aspects in an environmentally friendly way. Studiosus guides organise different means of public transport means on site in order to assure walking trips from different starting points without being dependent on a car.
	Nostalgie- und Erlebniszüge Neusiedlersee The ÖBB-Erlebnisbahn offers day trips and tours with nostalgic and ancient waggons. By giving detailed information regarding the route as well as by having several photo stops along the route, the journey turns out an outstanding adventure. The region of the national park "Neusiedlersee" is part of a model project for more sustainable border-crossing mobility. The "Neusiedlersee-card" offers car-free mobility.
	countryside
	ZweiTälerLand Tourismus The main objective of this tour package is to increase the number of day trips and local recreation. This attractive offer contains the journey by train with additional services, for example a cosy breakfast. "ZweiTälerLand"-region should become known as a sustainable tourism destination. The success of this offer is reflected in the increased number of bookings.
	sun, beach and sea
	Fahrtziel Natur - BSP Südost Rügen The aim of this inclusive package is to strengthen the image of tourism at the national park Jasmund and the biosphere reserve Südost-Rügen. In the offer are several services for guests travelling from railway stations in Germany to the parks included, such as kajak tours, free transfer from train station to hotel and a welcoming present. A comfortable mobility on site is assured by the Rügen-Card.
	Sylt - Erlebniswanderwoche am Nationalpark Wattenmeer The tour operator offers extraordinary walking tours on the Island of Sylt. The hikers travel to Sylt by train which makes the trip an environmentally-friendly journey. The price includes all transfers as well as a door-to-door luggage service. Traffic vouchers complete the service which is characterised by a high committment.
	cities
	Mobil mit der Bahn "Mobil mit der Bahn" fits perfectly in the wellness and health philosophy of the city of Bad Reichenhall. Tourists travelling by train are guaranteed relaxation right from the beginning of their holiday trip. The efficient use of public transport is guaranteed by a holiday travel card. Bad Reichenhall is also member of the association for car free spa resorts in Bavaria.
	Berliner Cooltour Sommer 2004 The "Berliner Cooltour 2004" is an offer, which combines a classical city trip with a joyful and refreshing beach holiday. Individual packages reach a wide range of potential customers, even babysitting is one of the optional services you can take advantage of. From an environmental point of view this offer helps to reduce harmful impacts caused by cars in the city.
	Karneval in Venedig Tourists who want to experience the famous Carneval of Venice can take the comfortable and entertaining night train leaving from Vienna. An special entertainment and casino waggon which is included in the offer makes the journey part of the coming up experience of the carneval. Each year the train is completely booked-out, which proves the success of the concept of fun, dance, gambling and entertainment.

Railway
	Wedelweiss - offered by the Austrian Railway (ÖBB) Skiing with Wedelweiss and Snow and Fun.Trips by motorail. More information: www.oebb.at
	Skiing - Transfer to Austria According to a market analysis of the Österreich Werbung, Belgian skiers visit Austria mainly by car (70%), because there are no attractive alternative offers. The project "TRESKi" wants to be this sustainable and environmentally sound alternative to visit Tyrol`s skiing destinations. Cooperating with the Belgian Railway and the Tirol Werbung, packages have been developed that offer a transfer from the guest`s railway station to the tyrolean hotel. About 15.000 People are estimated to visit Austria like this, a number that corresponds to about 6.000 cars. (bulletin, 07/2006)
Offers that have performed best in the NETS award competition:
	Category "mountains"
	Carfree tourism in Werfenweng The model project ’Soft Mobility - Car-free Tourism’ has been operating since 1998, and was conducted by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture & Forestry, Environment & Water Management and Economy & Employment, the two model communities Bad Hofgastein and Werfenweng, and the Federal State of Salzburg - with the support of the EU. It aims to establish new standards in the field of mobility, thus improving both, the quality of life and the quality of holidays. Thanks to a group of ambitious local accommodation suppliers, who support car-free mobility, holidaymakers have the opportunity to exchange their car keys for the "SAMO-key". Tourists can already arrive at the destination without car: the mobility centre ’mobilito’ in Bischofshofen ensures an unbroken chain of services from the own front door right to the holiday destination. The mobility of the guests is guaranteed at all times by the availability of electrical cars, taxis, buses, ... and the taxi ’Elois’. The success of this venture is reflected in the demand of the "SAMO-key", which has increased threefold over the last three years.
	Carfree hiking week The project "Valley Coaches" in the Lungau-Murau-Nockberge region enables guests to go on holiday without their car. Approximately 20 valleys are connected via this outstanding bus system. Apart from classical coaches also electro vehicles, which are free of emissions, are in use. The necessary road network has been developed to connect two national parks (Hohe Tauern and Nockberge), three natural parks (Riedingtal, Sölktäler, Grebenzen) and several protected areas. Also the price is very attractive because of the regional mobility card. By using the tram "Murradler" the tourist’s journey turns out into a theme trip: Guests have the opportunity to taste regional products of the eco-region Murau. Mobility on site is guaranteed by the excellent connection of shuttle services and several means of public transport. Guests will enjoy a comfortable and recreative holiday experience close to nature.
	Category "nature conservation areas"
	Fahrtziel Natur: Nationalpark Hainich The "German Railways", in cooperation with the "Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz", has developed a project called "Fahrtziel Natur". When booking the tour package "Fahrtziel Natur - National Park Hainich" the return ticket from any place in Germany is limited to a fare of 69 Euro with the "BahnCard" (2nd Class). Transfers from the hotel to the train station and guiding tours through the park are included. Due to this attractive fare, this innovative project in particular has achieved to convince more tourists to travel by train rather than coming by car in order to visit the park. The tour package has been created for the purpose of strengthening the name recognition of national and nature parks, which are of high interest for tourism in Germany. This holiday trip is offered in AMEROPA catalogues as well as in brochures of "Fahrtziel Natur". This innovative project has lead the way to iniciate the drafting of similar tour packages in other protected areas.
	Destination Baikal Lake by Transsibirian railway The philosophy of sustainable travel embraced by the organisation "Bund Naturschutz Service GmbH" finds expression in a variety of attractive offers. The organisation aims to establish travelling by train for long-distance tours, especially to less-developed tourism destinations. The usage of the train goes far beyond the common position of a means of transport. In this package travelling by train is rather an integrated part of the holiday. Detailed and descriptive travel reading helps the tourist to get well-prepared for the trip already in advance. The tourists should get curious to explore the country and its culture, such as regional cuisine, Russian architecture and interesting sights to visit. They will also have the opportunity to meet local residents and to get acquainted with their Russian mentality. This kind of providing environmental education while travelling represents just one way of making the destination more familiar and to broaden the tourists’ knowledge about the area.
	Category "countryside"
	The Schmalspur Classic Package With the tour package "Schmalspur Classic 2005", the "Naturhotel Steinschalerhof" aims to increase the number of guests travelling by train. This overall objective can be achieved by including train tickets in the arrangement from Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Upper Austria: Guests who arrive by car pay the same price for the inclusive offer and have to cover their travel expenses on their own. The package contains a three-day programme including several train trips and excursions, etc. Another aim to be achieved with this innovative arrangement is to support and assure the on-going operation of the oldest electric narrow gauge mountain railway of the world called "Mariazellerbahn. This heritage site has to be maintained and supported in a sustainable way.
	Bayerwald Ticket The Day Pass "Bayerwald Ticket" for the use of means of public transport has been created to reduce the individual traffic and to increase the capacity of the existing bus and train services in the national and natural park Bayerischer Wald. The county district supports this initiative by communicating, co-ordinating and synchronising five regional transport services of different suppliers. Particular attention is paid to the tram "Waldbahn". Special activities, such as "KulTOUR" and art events increase the attractiveness of using the tram. Various brochures give tips for activities, which are coordinated with the schedule. Suppliers from the fields of tourism, gastronomy, leisure facilities and glass industry are in close co-operation and offer reductions to visitors. The main objective is not only to develop public transport in the region but also to achieve a high acceptance of it.
	Category "cities"
	Lübeck individual The new holiday package "Lübeck individual" gives visitors the opportunity to explore Lübeck without car. This offer travelling by train raises the attractiveness of Lübeck as a popular destination for individual short stays and comfortable city tours: At the beginning of the tour the guests receive a small radio and a magazine about Lübeck as an interesting holiday reading; on the way back the passengers can relish a tasty packed lunch. Holiday starts already at home - the guests will arrive at their holiday destination in a relaxing and environmentally friendly way. This three-day programme includes the "Happy Day Card" for the free use of public transport in Lübeck and Travemünde and several reductions for the guests. The trip is bookable for any day of the week, an extension of the length of stay is possible
	World Cultural Heritage in Bohemia The intention of the tour operator "Begegnung mit Böhmen" is to offer its clients to experience specific and authentic everyday life in the Czech Republic. The tourists will visit known as well as unknown cities and villages that are awarded with the UNESCO-certificate "World Heritage Site". Typical charter coaches for city trips are intentionally excluded since particularly travelling by train offers a unique cultural and social insight: The guests will have the opportunity to meet and speak with local people. The small tourist party is accompanied by a high-educated art historian and a specialist in German studies. There will occur encounters with residents and welcoming dinners with music in museums and pubs. The package "World Heritage Site in Bohemia" offers an interesting and exciting way of making cultural tours from place-to-place by train.
	Category "sun, beach and sea"
	Sapori Cilentani - Taste the Cilento The Cilento region and its "UNESCO World Heritage Site" Castellabate is a touristically almost untouched region in the South of Italy. The area is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches, cliffy steep coasts, ancient villages, wild mountain areas and a delicious cuisine. Although the journey to Cilento takes quite long, time seems to "fly" thanks to the direct train connection Munich-Naples. The guests get a one-week travelcard for the use of the public transport. This travelcard guarantees mobility for walking tours, boat excursions, sightseeing tours and picknicks. The tour package offers a highly comfortable and exciting way of travelling for the guests. It is an excellent alternative to the travel to such destinations by classical means of transport, which is usually the airoplane. This offer has also been awarded the "Goldene Palme" lead by "Geo-Saison". ReNatour is also a member of "forum anders reisen", an association of German tour operators comitted to sustainable tourism.