Tourism Innovation Award Baden-Württemberg: Call for Applications

The Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg is accepting applications for the Innovationspreis Tourismus to honor projects that innovatively present regional history and culture. The competition awards 5,000 euros in each of two categories to organizations and businesses in Baden-Württemberg that make historical traditions experienceable for modern visitors.

Who is eligible for the Tourism Innovation Prize?

The call for applications targets tourism organizations, service providers, and businesses located in Baden-Württemberg, according to the Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg. Eligible projects must be either already operational and created in recent years or nearly complete.

Applicants can enter in two distinct categories. The “Destinations” category seeks local or regional spots using new technologies or innovative event formats to preserve customs and local history.

The “Service Providers” category focuses on private or public entities that bring cultural heritage to life. The Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg specifically mentions company museums, visitor centers, regional culinary concepts, and digital mediation formats as examples.

Did You Know? Each of the two categories in the Innovationspreis Tourismus is awarded a prize of 5,000 euros.

Who selects the award winners?

A specialized jury determines the winners, according to the Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg. This panel includes representatives from the Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg and the Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg (TMBW).

The jury also features experts from the German Hotel and Catering Association (DEHOGA) Baden-Württemberg and the Baden-Württemberg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Additionally, representatives from the state’s tourism universities serve on the panel.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the inclusion of both academic tourism universities and industry bodies like DEHOGA and IHK suggests the jury is weighing theoretical innovation against practical commercial viability. This balance is critical when judging whether a project successfully makes “historical roots” accessible to a modern audience.

What happens next for applicants?

Interested parties may apply through the Tourismusnetzwerk Baden-Württemberg website. The Tourismus-Verband Baden-Württemberg states that the “innovation character” of the project must be clearly recognizable to be successful.

The selection process could highlight new ways of using technology to evoke history. A possible result of the awards is the increased visibility of unconventional collaborations or digital formats that modernize the region’s cultural heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Innovationspreis Tourismus?
Businesses, service providers, and tourism organizations located in Baden-Württemberg may apply.

What are the two categories for the prize?
The categories are “Destinations,” focusing on local/regional history and customs, and “Service Providers,” focusing on private or public organizations that make cultural heritage alive.

What is the financial reward for winning?
A prize of 5,000 euros is awarded per category.

Which local tradition in your region deserves a modern makeover?