Criteria for Premium Hiking Regions and Premium Hiking Towns

Component 2: Well Informed

The Premium Hiking Region / Premium Hiking Town provides visitors with a comprehensive information system.

Mandatory Criteria:

• There is a dedicated hiking website containing all information and offers related to hiking. Current trail deficiencies and closures are also communicated here.

• There is at least one certified Tourist Information Office with hiking expertise and appropriate hiking-related facilities and services (e.g. certified with the German Tourism Association’s i-Marke or a comparable quality seal) for every 20 Premium Trails.

• Brochures and hiking maps are published in a consistent design and shared corporate identity.

• Information is provided on all tourist attractions and services of interest to hikers within the region and, where appropriate, in neighbouring regions.

• By 1 January 2018 at the latest, a mobility concept must be developed showing which trails can be reached by public transport, taxi companies operating in the region and other services such as pick-up and drop-off services. Hikers are provided with comprehensive information on how to reach the trails without using their own vehicle.

• Outside the opening hours of Tourist Information Offices, the most important information is made accessible in their outdoor areas, for example through notices or QR codes.

• An emergency and safety concept is in place for Premium Trails (from 2018 onwards).

Optional Criteria:

• The website includes an interactive hiking map.

• The Premium Hiking Region is signposted on access roads, at railway stations and at other central locations (information maps).

• An information hotline is available throughout the week.

• The trail network is made clearer through categories such as easy and difficult.

• Signposted access routes lead from bus stops and railway stations to all Premium Trails where public transport stops are located within a distance of up to 1.5 kilometres.

Component 3: Hiker-Friendly Hosts

The Premium Hiking Region / Premium Hiking Town provides a comprehensive network of hiker-friendly hosts.

Mandatory Criteria:

• There is at least one hiker-friendly restaurant or other food service establishment and one accommodation provider for each Premium Trail. These may be combined in a single business offering both services. They must be clearly identifiable as partner businesses. They may also be regionally certified hiker-friendly hosts or Qualitätsgastgeber Wanderbares Deutschland establishments, provided that they meet the minimum criteria listed below.

• The maximum travel time between a partner business and a Premium Trail must not exceed 20 minutes. Information about these hosts, including opening hours and travel times, is provided at the trailhead, for example on an information board or through digital media such as QR codes on trailhead information panels.

• All hiking tourism materials for the region are clearly displayed at the hiker-friendly businesses. Each business has staff who are familiar with the Premium Trails and can provide advice to hiking visitors.

• The menus of partner businesses (3 businesses per 10 Premium Trails) must include at least two dishes prepared using regional products.

• The menus of partner businesses (3 businesses per 10 Premium Trails) must include at least two dishes that are typical of the region.

• The menus of partner businesses (3 businesses per 10 Premium Trails) must include at least two vegetarian options.

• Partner businesses have reliable opening hours from April to October, which are also displayed at the trailheads, and no more than two closing days per week.

• Where available within the region, the menus of partner businesses (3 businesses per 10 Premium Trails) must include wines, beers, mineral water, juices and fruit brandies produced in the region. If these products are not available within the region, products from neighbouring regions should be offered.

• Regular communication takes place with the hosts, for example through a working group.

Optional Criteria:

• Hosts support the region’s mobility concept. Pick-up and drop-off services to the trails are available, as well as luggage transfers for long-distance trails.

• Seasonal culinary events and promotions are offered by local restaurants and are jointly coordinated and marketed by the Hiking Region and participating businesses.

• Self-service drinks stations, including vending machines, are available along 50% of the Premium Trails.

• Hiking huts, cafés and snack bars are available along 50% of the Premium Trails; their opening hours and distances from the trailheads are displayed there (maximum 10 minutes away).

• The region cooperates with organisations that promote sustainable and regional food, such as Slow Food organisations and regional food brands.

• Special package offers for hikers are available.

• The Hiking Region cooperates with hiking tour operators.

Component 4: Trail Activities and Hiking Events

The Premium Hiking Region / Premium Hiking Town communicates and showcases the identity of the region through activities offered on its hiking trails. It provides guided hikes and other events on Premium Trails.

Mandatory Criteria:

• During the respective hiking season, at least one hike focusing on natural history and/or cultural history is offered each month.

• Bookable guided hikes are available during the hiking season.

• All hiking events are promoted online and/or in printed publications.

• The Premium Hiking Region participates continuously in hiking monitoring programmes and supports surveys of hiking visitors conducted by the German Hiking Institute.

Optional Criteria:

Additional hiking events and guided hikes on a variety of themes are offered regularly (at least once a year):

• Culinary experiences and hiking (e.g. beer hikes, wine hikes and three-course-menu hikes)

• Music and hiking (e.g. concerts along Premium Trails)

• Art and hiking (e.g. art installations or performance art along the trail)

• Storytelling hikes (e.g. fairy-tale, crime or poetry hikes)

• Night hikes

• Hiking marathons

• Guided dog hikes (e.g. with a dog trainer)

• Health hikes

• Hikes accompanied by animals (donkeys, llamas, goats)