Mrs. Brunnhuber, you are leading the "German Alpine Road E-Mobile" project - what is it all about?
Tanja Brunnhuber: Well, the Alpine Road is an approximately 400-kilometer-long long-distance road that runs from Lake Constance to Königssee along the Bavarian Alps. With this project, we want to create a link between electromobility and tourism . That is, travelers should have the opportunity to travel and experience the Alpine Road in a sustainable way with an electric vehicle through improved information exchange and specific offers. To achieve this goal, we are starting with a review of the current charging infrastructure situation. In addition, we are trying to motivate hotels to develop the topic of electromobility for themselves, so that they provide e-relevant information for guests on the Internet, among other things. In the best case, a guest can immediately find out which sights are available locally, where he can charge his vehicle, and much more. . Thus, the e-mobile traveler can drive carefree from A to Z and at the same time explore the highlights along the German Alpine Road.
Where are the biggest challenges here?
Tanja Brunnhuber: Well, the be-all and end-all is the provision of seamless information. Thus, the focus of our work is currently on networking. We connect all service providers and tourism stakeholders on site. It doesn't matter whether that's a mountain railroad, a museum, a vantage point or the hotels and restaurateurs. We mobilize all of these players to examine how their offerings can be made visible to guests in combination with electromobility in the future.
In addition, we have found that there are a variety of payment systems, charging apps and charging cards. Here we would like to offer a better overview and provide transparency by bundling information. It is also very important to us that we do not develop parallel offerings. In Bavaria, for example, there is already the Ladeatlas Bayern . This is an excellent source of information, where all service providers who have a charging infrastructure can register free of charge and on their own responsibility via the e-mail address Contact by Mail .
Even in times of the pandemic, for many tourists their own car is more than ever the number one means of transport. Are there any attractive solutions here to bring about a rethink among travelers?
Tanja Brunnhuber: You can't force anyone to do anything, but we can be supportive by creating attractive offers. Such offers can be, for example, solutions for guests who do not know how to get from the station to the hotel when traveling by public transport. To this end, RWTH Aachen University has an innovative project called "Ducktrain" . In this "duck train" concept, up to four autonomously driving trailers follow the big "mama duck". A great tool to solve this "last mile problem". In general, when it comes to tourist mobility, offers for small distances are often needed.
A lighthouse project for this exists in Austria in the municipality of Werfenweng , which has been a leader in this micro-mobility for years and provides a wide variety of offers to guests as well as locals. I also think the town of Murnau is great, using a flexible and demand-driven local bus called "omobi" . Guests and residents can easily order the bus via an app. It is precisely these small micro-mobility helpers that bring incredible added value to tourism.
What could mobility in tourism regions look like in 2030?
Tanja Brunnhuber: I am convinced that sustainable, tourist mobility will become our DNA. The use of offers will be more convenient and comfortable. Even before the start of a trip, it will be clear to everyone what sustainable mobility will look like on vacation - from getting there, to visiting local attractions, to the return journey.
The topic of living space and concepts for visitor guidance is also close to my heart. Many residents are bothered by the "avalanches of cars" during the vacation season because so many people arrive by car. What can be done about this? You could link everyday mobility with vacation mobility with a cross-regional, sustainable mobility concept. After all, if something is attractive in everyday life, then people are also happy to travel to this region as vacationers. So, immerse yourself in the local world, be part of the big picture. For me, that has a lot to do with regional ties and responsibility. That it continues in this direction, that's what I wish for tourist mobility and generally for tourism in the coming years.
The interview was conducted by Dr. Kord Pannkoke, Head of Business Development at Bayern Innovativ GmbH.
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