Kochel's tourism boss Daniel Weickel: pioneer for mindfulness!

Kochel's tourism boss Daniel Weickel: pioneer for mindfulness!

In the picturesque town of Kochel am See, the signs point to success in the tourism sector. The head of tourism, Daniel Weickel, was recently named “Tourist of the Year”. Agriculture and Tourism Minister Michaela Kaniber honored him for his outstanding commitment and creative vision, which is designed to be sustainable and mindful. Süddeutsche.de reports that Weickel focuses on existing offerings without creating unnecessary new attractions.

Kochel recorded a significant increase in tourism numbers in 2024 with around 66,100 arrivals and 252,500 overnight stays, which represents an increase of around 3% compared to 2023. This is also proven by a current report from Merkur.de. A third of arrivals come to the neighboring Walchensee, while the high season in July and August attracts the most guests.

Sustainability as the key to success

Weickel is particularly committed to sustainable tourism. Its initiatives include the “Ludwig II – King of the Mountains” themed trail, which takes hikers to historical sites of the famous king. In addition, the “Discover Yourself Moments” concept was developed, which encourages guests to be mindful at twelve stations in the Two Lakes Region. A booklet with tips on gastronomy and music by composer Louis Edlinger complements this experience and is likely to be well received by visitors.

When asked how the length of stay of guests can be increased, Weickel says it is important to extend the attractiveness throughout the year. In addition, he plans to revitalize the vacant properties in Kochel and upgrade the spa park to create a more pleasant environment for vacationers.

A look into the future

An ambitious hotel project in Einsiedl am Walchensee, which was supposed to include 128 rooms and eight tiny houses, encountered unforeseen obstacles due to problems with the drinking water supply. However, the tourism boss remains optimistic and sees this as an opportunity to further develop the region. “We have great potential that needs to be exploited,” explains Weickel and looks to the future challenges with confidence.

With a high proportion of seniors among the guests, followed by younger holidaymakers, Kochel shows an interesting age distribution in tourism. A third of the guests come from Bavaria, while numerous international visitors, including from Austria and the Netherlands, also travel to the picturesque region. The campsites in particular are very popular and take up a significant proportion of overnight stays.

Overall, the course seems to have been set for continued flourishing tourism in Kochel am See. Weickel and his team manage the balancing act between sustainability and the desire for growth with a skillful hand, so that the region can continue to attract guests who are looking for something special in the future.