Rennertshofen is leaving the ARGE Urdonautal: What now for tourism?

Rennertshofen is leaving the ARGE Urdonautal: What now for tourism?

In the heart of the ancient Danube Valley, new perspectives and challenges are opening up. The town of Rennertshofen, a member of the intermunicipal working group (Arge) Urdonautal, recently made a decisive decision. After intensive discussions, the majority of the local council decided not to take part in the preparation of a feasibility study for a tourism concept. Mayor Georg Hirschbeck (CSU) campaigned for approval during the consultations and pointed out the advantages of local tourist routes. But concerns about continued membership in the association became clear after the vote.
In addition to Rennertshofen, the city of Neuburg and the communities of Dollnstein, Wellheim, Nassenfels, Bergheim, Rohrenfels, Burgheim and Oberhausen are also involved in the joint venture. Their common goal: to promote and strengthen tourism in the region. Despite the common approach, Rennertshofen's decision shows that not all members have the same priorities.

Cantonal investments in tourism

A central part of the discussion was the planned feasibility study, which is to be funded by the LEADER program. This program, which stands for “Connecting actions for the development of the rural economy”, is an important funding instrument of the European Union. The aim is to make rural regions fit for the future by involving citizens and local actors in the development processes. For the feasibility study, which is linked to the LAG Altmühl-Donau e.V., total costs of around 40,000 euros are estimated, of which around 19,000 euros are to be covered by funding. This would reduce the costs for the members involved to 2,500 euros.
The study is intended to provide guidance on tourism investments and funding opportunities, as well as support long-term planning. A strategic and future-oriented concept for the Arge Urdonautal is intended to help strengthen the tourism position of the member municipalities and use synergies.

The future of the Arge Urdonautal

Despite these promising plans, the decision of the Rennertshofen local council was not taken for granted. After the vote, Hirschbeck expressed his concerns about future participation in the consortium. This raises questions: What does this decision mean for the Arge? Should we fear the end of intercommunal cooperation? Or is there still a way out of this difficult situation? It is clear that tourism in the region can only flourish if all partners pull together and actively use LEADER's support. The project is intended not only to increase the visibility of the region, but also to promote the targeted expansion of existing networks such as the Altmühltal Nature Park.

There are groundbreaking decisions to be made in the ancient Danube valley. It remains to be seen whether Rennertshofen will stick to its course or whether concerns about membership in the consortium may jeopardize cooperation. One thing is certain: tourism has the potential to move the region forward if everyone involved is prepared to act together and show courage to explore new paths.