Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR
100 Years of the Feistritz Railway – A Journey of Delight Through East Styria
Summary
The Freistriztalbahn’s new joint marketing project will connect, serve and promote the region’s various tourist activities.
Background
The Centenary of the Feistritz railway will help showcase the region’s many attractions in an innovative way. Since 1971 its steam trains have mainly carried tourists - 20-30,000 passengers a year - despite limited operating hours. This vintage railway features viaducts, original stations and water towers, and the 100th anniversary celebrations will both attract more visitors to the region and benefit the railway.
Objective
The notion of ‘slowing down the pace’ is a popular theme in the East Styrian tourism industry, meaning gentle, sustainable, leisurely, tourist activities such as rail travel, hot air ballooning, bicycle and horseback riding, or walking. The Freistriztalbahn’s new joint marketing project will connect, serve and promote the region’s various tourist activities.
Main activities
Between May and December many trains will run, and events organised, culminating in the Centenary railway journey on December 14. The coordination of the different activities of the touristic bodies and regions is a complex task, requiring additional temporary support. Attractions include a variety of regional agricultural and gastro-culinary products and activities.
Results & Benefits
Local businesses, associations and municipalities will be invited to sponsor the railway’s restored rolling stock, using crests and logos to feature municipalities and companies (in a reversible way). A bicycle wagon will provide a cyclist-friendly schedule that supports the use of local cycle-paths Stations will be renovated, incorporating rooms that can be used to promote local and regional produce and events.
Lessons learnt
Using the attractions of a popular tourist railway to promote ‘local culinary delights’ underlines the interconnections between agriculture, tourism and industrial heritage. Bringing four different regions together is seen as an innovative way to attract new visitors.
Project location and other information
Styria
Region
Steiermark
RDP Territory
Austria
Total project cost (€)
400 000
Project website
Contact name
LAG Oststeirisches Kernland
Telephone
+43 3334 31478-0
Languages for contact
German
At a glance
Country
Austria
Final beneficiary type
Producer groups, Public/local authorities, Non-governmental organisations
Budget range
€100 000 - €500 000
Start date:
01/10/2010
End Date:
30/09/2013
Theme / Measure:
Implementing the LEADER Approach
Co-operation projects
421. Implementing co-operation projects
Keywords:
Historical site, Rural tourism, Landscape, Marketing, Inter-territorial cooperation
Last update
09/04/2012