New managing director and a breath of fresh air at Appenzellerland Tourismus AG!

New managing director and a breath of fresh air at Appenzellerland Tourismus AG!

The general meeting of Appenzellerland Tourismus AG (Atag) was successfully held on May 23, 2025. In addition to the presentation of good financial figures, the focus of the event was the election of two new members to the Board of Directors. Managing director Kevin Signer, who chaired the meeting for the first time, presented positive balance sheet data as well as new projects that underline the importance of tourism in the Appenzell region.

The Atag Board of Directors now consists of Thomas Baumgartner, Erich Dasen, Sandra Nater, Pascale Sigg-Bischof, Kevin Signer, Paddy Schai, Jakob Gülünay and Beatrice Forster. Particular attention was paid to representing both the catering industry and the Vorderland on the supervisory board. The aim is to reduce losses with a profit of 20,481 francs.

New initiatives and hiking offers

A highlight of the meeting was the report on the 722 hiking passes sold, which include vouchers for partners along the hiking route. In addition, the new joke experience around the joke hiking trail is very popular, with 13,000 users already registered via the app. This reflects increasing digitalization and the integration of modern technologies into the hiking experience.

The Alpstein, as part of the Appenzellerland, offers a variety of hiking trails, ranging from easy walks to challenging mountain tours. Hikers can rest in a total of 24 cozy mountain inns and enjoy regional specialties such as Rösti. Six cable cars make the climb easier, while various themed hiking trails and a barefoot path offer guests a variety of outdoor experiences, such as appenzell.ch is reported.

Political support and cooperation

Government Councilor Dölf Biasotto spoke to the shareholders during the meeting at the Säntis summit. He highlighted his family connection to the construction work on Säntis, which underlines the canton's close ties to the region's tourist offerings. However, the people responsible remained silent about the intensification of cooperation with the Innerrhoden Tourism Association, which at the same time raises questions and arouses curiosity about future developments.

Tourism in Appenzellerland is considered a relevant industry that is characterized by customs, tradition and diverse nature. With these current developments, Appenzellerland Tourismus AG shows that it is adapting to both the challenges and opportunities of the market while maintaining its commitment to the region and its cultural characteristics. For more information, see the article by appenzellerzeitung.ch.