Project meeting on sustainable geotourism: INTERREG Danube GeoTour Plus in Styria

From February 10 to 12, 2025, the partners of the INTERREG Danube GeoTour Plus project met in the Styrian Eisenwurzen Geopark (Austria) to evaluate the current status of cooperation and provide new impetus for sustainable geotourism. The meeting was characterized by an intensive professional exchange, inspiring excursions and a lively sense of community.

A look back at three days of intensive collaboration

The obligatory First Year Review was on the agenda right at the beginning. Together with the lead partner, the project participants presented their progress to date to the Joint Secretary of the Danube Region Program. The feedback was very positive: The goals set for the first year of the project were largely achieved - only minor notes were added. A successful start that acknowledges the commitment of all those involved.

The participants then visited the “Georama Geowerkstatt”. There they were able to experience hands-on how geological processes can be made comprehensible by splitting and examining river debris - an innovative educational approach that makes science tangible.

Another focus was the question of how an exchange of vulnerable groups from the various geoparks could be organized. This topic was discussed intensively in a separate workshop - a forward-looking approach to promoting inclusive geopark communities.

The second day was dedicated to various workshops: on the one hand, concrete progress in the implementation of planned geopark products was exchanged, and on the other hand, the question of how visitor counts could be standardized in the geoparks in the future using technical counting systems was discussed.

Insights, experiences and musical surprises

The Danube GeoTour Plus meeting was rounded off with cultural program items: a night tour of the Silvanum Forestry Museum in Großreifling offered impressive insights into the history of forestry and modern forest management. A visit to the Wildalpen Water Museum also deepened understanding of the sustainable use of water resources in the region.

In the evening, a festive gala dinner with traditional dishes and drinks created a festive atmosphere. The evening was accompanied by music from a local folk music group - and a special surprise: our colleague Julian Stolz bravely took up the flugelhorn and spontaneously added to the musical interlude.

The project meeting in Styria once again underlined how important direct exchange is for the further development of sustainable, inclusive geotourism offers in the Danube region. Danube GeoTour Plus is part of the EU INTERREG Danube Region program and strengthens cross-border cooperation between the geoparks along the Danube.