Saxony promotes hiking trails: New opportunities for tourism and community!

Saxony promotes hiking trails: New opportunities for tourism and community!

On May 14, 2025, Barbara Klepsch, the Tourism Minister of Saxony, announced significant funding for hiking trails. These initiatives aim to strengthen tourism and promote social cohesion in the regions. Loud MDR allows the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to allocate funding for various projects that encourage people to experience nature together on hiking trails.

Minister Klepsch's announcements are part of a broader strategy to improve tourism in Saxony. On April 29, 2025, she presented the first “Action Plan 2025”, which is based on the Saxony Tourism Master Plan adopted last year. This plan defines annual measures that serve to strengthen Saxony's tourism strategy. The “Standing Tourism Advisory Board for the Free State of Saxony” decided on this plan at its first meeting Saxon state government reported.

Measures in the 2025 action plan

The action plan sets out concrete measures to improve tourism in Saxony. The planned focal points include the revision of the funding program for year-round tourism and a study on cycle tourism, the results of which are to be presented at the “Bike Summit” next September. Supporting Saxon health resorts in marketing awards and sustainability is also part of the plan. The continuation of the “Saxony Barrier-Free” project and the further development of the Saxony Hiking and Pilgrim Academy are also on the agenda.

• Überarbeitung des Förderprogramms für den Ganzjahrestourismus
• Studie zum Radtourismus, Ergebnisse im September vorgestellt
• Unterstützung der sächsischen Kurorte
• Konzeption eines touristischen Daten-Dashboards
• Fortführung des Projekts „Sachsen Barrierefrei“
• Entwicklung der Wander- und Pilgerakademie Sachsen
• Touristische Entwicklung der drei sächsischen Welterbestätten
• Fortentwicklung des Leipziger Neuseenlands und des Lausitzer Seenlands

The minister emphasized that the activities are in line with the projects that have already been completed. These include studies on the attractiveness of Saxony as a travel destination, campaigns on quality of life and tourism, as well as recommendations on guest taxes in communities. The aim is to position Saxony as a leading state in cycle tourism and to continue to focus on year-round tourism, skilled worker development, destination marketing and digitalization.

With these measures, Saxony is demonstrating a clear strategy to promote tourism and improve the tourist infrastructure, which benefits both visitors and locals. Visitors should be able to build a deeper connection to Saxon nature and culture through the newly designed hiking trails and the diverse leisure opportunities.