Mindful tourism in Saalfelden Leogang

At the end of the 19th century in Munich, those who wanted to drink “a distinct amount of beer” could enjoy it with the help of the Birnbach Glacier near Saalfelden Leogang. At that time it was one of the refrigerators of Munich beer breweries. From there, the natural ice was transported by rail to Bavaria in order to cool the cellars in the summer. Today the Birnbach Glacier and its numerous stories are an important part of the “Natur & Klima im Wandel” hike in Saalfelden Leogang. This particular hike is just one of many examples of how the entire region relies on sustainable and mindful tourism and offers a glimpse into the future. Since May, Saalfelden Leogang has been the first tourism association in Salzburg to become a climate alliance company.

 

Climate migration: Birnbach Glacier as a symbol of climate change

“When, if not now?” is the headline in the new magazine of Saalfelden Leogang. Content of the article: the commitment of the region to the careful use of resources. One of many initiatives is the “Natur & Klima im Wandel” hike with Anna Heuberger, KLAR Manager Pinzgau (Climate Change Adaptation Model Regions Funding Programme), who wants to illustrate and communicate the changes in our climate: “Climate change and its effects on our society and environment have become increasingly important topics for me in recent years. The climate affects us all. Extreme heat affects our daily lives just like a severe storm.” 

 

The Birnbach Glacier plays an important role in the “Natur & Klima im Wandel” hike. In the past, the Avalanche Glacier supplied the major breweries in Munich with ice, which was transported by a 1,600-metre long wooden slide into the valley and finally by train to the Bavarian state capital. Today, the ice masses have become smaller, even though no ice has been mined for beer cooling for a long time. Climate change is very well illustrated here. Heuberger: “The Birnbach Glacier is often described as the deepest glacier in Central Europe and represents a symbol of the climatic changes of the last century. The glacier and witnesses in the landscape explain the history, peculiarities and future challenges of the region.” Heuberger gives tips on dealing with nature and gives hope for the future.

 

Further information on climate migration: www.saalfelden-leogang.com/en/service-info/sustainability/climate-hike

 

Saalfelden Leogang is leading the way in sustainability

Saalfelden Leogang has long been at the forefront of the conscious use of resources and the development of forward-looking initiatives. There are numerous measures in various areas: from green events to sustainable accommodation and cable cars. Thanks to heat recovery from the lift engines, the Leoganger mountain railways heat the adjacent rooms of the mountain railways, the workshop and the mountain restaurant “Stocklalm”. In addition, they have purchased all their fuel requirements in the form of HVO100 renewable fuel for the winter of 2023/24. This is equivalent to a saving of up to 90 percent in CO2 emissions.

 

Sustainability is also reflected in the region’s event calendar. Major events are carried out as sustainably as possible (UCI Mountainbike World Cup June 15-18, 2023), or certified as a Green Event like the Nordic Park Experience or Regionalitymesse. The focus will be on topics such as public travel to the event, the avoidance of waste and the use of reusable cups. As well as raising awareness among athletes and guests about the environment as well as the use of regional products. Many hotels also focus on environmental protection and sustainability, using their own biomass heating plants, wood chip plants or composting plants for energy supply. Many companies and companies have been awarded the Austrian Environmental Label for their commitment.

 

As a member of respACT and as a pilot region for the Austrian Ecolabel, the region relies on sustainable concepts in order to preserve the offers in nature for the future, among other things, as a member of respACT and as a pilot region for the Austrian Ecolabel. Getting there by train is also easy and saves nerves and time. With the Saalfelden Leogang Card you can even use public transport in Pinzgau for free. The Loigom shuttle in Leogang complements the existing line network with numerous stops through the on-demand offer. This provided a connection to public transport where there was no connection before.

 

Region from now on Climate Alliance operation

The next step in climate protection: Saalfelden Leogang has recently become the first tourism association in Salzburg to declare itself a climate alliance company. In this way, the region is committed to sustainable action, the responsible use of resources and social responsibility. The Climate Alliance Austria is committed to climate protection, climate justice and a sustainable lifestyle. It builds and develops a global network of committed cities and communities. In order to be included in the Climate Alliance, the tourism association underwent a climate check for six months, and all employees were also trained in a workshop.

 

New Saalfelden Leogang Magazine “As I Want”

If you want to know everything about Saalfelden Leogang, the beauties of the region and the holiday offers, you should get the new magazine of the tourist region or download it on the Internet. In the edition titled “As I Want to” there are lots of exciting stories about locals, mountain love and mindful tourism, great insider tips, the best activities as well as numbers, facts and plenty of service.

 

The magazine Saalfelden Leogang 2023 is available as a download here: www.saalfelden-leogang.com/en/service-info/brochure-order