New funding program strengthens domestic tourism in Schleswig-Holstein!

New funding program strengthens domestic tourism in Schleswig-Holstein!

Itzehoe, Deutschland - Tourism in Schleswig-Holstein plays a crucial role as an economic engine. While the coastal regions have had significant success in recent years, the inland stayed in tourism. In order to counteract this grievance, Minister of Economics Claus Ruhe presented Madsen Madsen on May 21, 2025, a new funding program that targeted strengthening internal country tourism. A total of 13 million euros from EU and state funds are available. The aim is to position the inland as an attractive travel destination and to increase the tourist value creation there [schleswig-holstein.de] that ...

The entry into the funding program is now possible. Applications can be submitted to the Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH) investment bank. There are two categories for funding applications. The first category includes non-Investive projects, such as the development of tourist concepts, offer and product development as well as digitization measures. The application deadline of August 31, 2025. The second category that covers investing projects includes the expansion of bike and hiking trails as well as the creation of new natural and cultural experience facilities. The application deadline of November 30, 2025 applies to these projects.

strategic orientation and promotion

The basics of the program were developed in cooperation with actors from the inland. The inland tourism strategy Schleswig-Holstein was already adopted in December 2023. The ARGE inland tourism of Schleswig-Holstein e.V., which was founded in 2024, acts as a central umbrella organization for the accompaniment and evaluation of the projects. This structured approach is necessary to achieve the desired developments.

Half of the funding comes from the state budget and half from the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE). Depending on the type of cost, the funded projects can be reimbursed, whereby the maximum funding amount for individual projects is 500,000 euros [arge-internal Landtourismus-sh.de] reports that ...

applicants involved and requirements

The funding applications can be submitted by municipalities, municipal associations and by organizations and institutions working in tourism. However, companies from the accommodation and catering business are excluded from the application. It is also important that the project sponsor is a member of a local tourism organization (LTO) or acts in close cooperation with one.

The ARGE inland tourism not only supports the applicants with information on funding calls, but also by providing advice on their office in Itzehoe. A first project call of the MWVatt is planned for 2025, including relevant webinars for interested parties.

The new funding program is an important step in order to promote Schleswig-Holstein Innenland as an attractive destination and to maintain rural areas functional. The tourist sector in the inland thus gets the chance of sustainable development and a new form of added value.