Black Forest delegation inspires wine tourism in Ticino!

Black Forest delegation inspires wine tourism in Ticino!

The Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH (StG) carried out an extensive study trip to Ticino from May 14 to 16, 2025, in which a 22-member tourism delegation took part. The goal of this trip was to explore various facets of Ticino tourism, including wine tourism, architecture and city tourism. During the stay, the delegation met with a large number of tourist players and political representatives of Ticino to discuss future developments and strategies.

On the first day, there was an important meeting in Morcote, where Angelo Trotta, director of Ticino Tourism, brought the marketing strategies and central future issues closer to the delegation. Stefano Rizzi, the director of the Ticino Economic Department, highlighted the economic development strategy and innovations to support companies in the tourism sector. The role of tourism as a motor force for regional development was emphasized by Hansjörg Mair, Managing Director of the STG.

wine tourism and architectural highlights

The delegation took the opportunity to explore the potential of wine tourism and attended the Tenuta Castello di Morcote. Gaby Gianini, the winemaker of the winery, represented her winery as a meeting point for high -quality wine tourism. In this context, the STG announced the establishment of a competence team Wein tourism that is supposed to support winegrowers in the Baden winegrowing association.

Another highlight was the visit to the tourist facility "Fiore di Pietra" on Monte Generosso, which was designed by the renowned architect Mario Botta. This architectural attraction, which has been in operation since 2017 and has a restaurant and a conference area, was introduced by Lorenz Brugger, director of the Ferrovia Monte Generosso. A visit to the Lac - Lugano Arte e Cultura cultural center, designed by Ivano Gianola, rounded off the first day. Here the delegation found premises for exhibitions and various events.

An important part of the trip was also the tour of the "Albergo diffuso Monte Generoso". The innovative concept includes the room distributed via the village and was introduced by Athos Cereghetti, which comprises five renovated buildings. In this approach, Hansjörg Mair recognizes potential for similar projects in the Black Forest that could contribute to the revitalization of rural areas.

city tourism and exchange with Lugano

City tourism was identified as a decisive factor for the Black Forest holiday region. The shareholders of these initiatives are the cities of Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Pforzheim and Baden-Baden. The end of the trip was a guided tour through the old town of Lugano, followed by an exchange with Massimo Bonuses, director of the Lugano region, as well as representatives of the city. This exchange showed the possibilities of cooperation between the regions.

The delegation also visited the “Albergo diffuso” in Corippo, the smallest village in Switzerland. Here, guests can spend the night in minimalist accommodations with authentic Ticino heritage. The hotel offers ten rooms and space for 22 people as well as a variety of amenities, including a restaurant, shuttle service and free Wi-Fi. In addition, guests benefit from the advantages of the Ticino Ticket, which offers a free travel on public transport as well as benefits on mountain railways and tourist attractions. The location on the hill in the mountains enables a quiet stay with a panoramic view in this picturesque region.

The study trip not only promoted exchange and networking, but also gave valuable insights into the tourist approaches of Tessin, which can serve as inspiration for future projects in the Black Forest