Geo-Nature Park Frau-Holle-Land leaves Werra Valley Tourism: Why?

Geo-Nature Park Frau-Holle-Land leaves Werra Valley Tourism: Why?

The Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land announced its withdrawal from the Werratal Tourismus (WTT) association the day before yesterday. This step does not come as a complete surprise, as the Werra-Meißner district had already made similar decisions on June 30, 2025. Dissatisfaction with the achievements of the WTT so far runs like a red thread through recent history. Especially since 2019, there have been critical voices pointing out deficiencies in infrastructure management and marketing. HNA reports that the loss of the geo-natural park is seen as a significant loss for the tourism association.

The background to the exit

Opponents of the WTT strategy complain that marketing efforts have shown little noticeable progress in recent years. The marketing team's primary purpose was to build a website that, despite 80,000 annual visits, was not able to achieve the desired reach. However, with 200,000 annual hits, the Geo-Nature Park website is more successful and also enjoys a larger online presence. While the WTT is hardly active on social media, the Geo-Nature Park is much more present online. With fewer than four Facebook posts in 2022, WTT's social media activity was almost non-existent.

Frau-Holle-Land and its charms

The Geo-Nature Park itself is a true jewel in Hesse, nestled between the Werra River, the Hoher Meißner and the Kaufungen Forest. The region is famous for the legend of Frau Holle, discovered by the Brothers Grimm, and her treasures in spring - the poppy fields glow bright pink. Such attractions and the impressive landscape all year round magically attract nature lovers and are crucial for the regional economic effects of tourism. Hesse tourism emphasizes that guests come to the Geo-Nature Park not only to relax, but also to experience nature.

The economics of tourism

Tourism has an immense impact on the local economy. Loud BfN The expenses of day and overnight guests contribute significantly to the added value in the region. Researchers have found that in national parks like the Bavarian Forest, almost half of guests come primarily because of national park status. This shows how important it is to promote tourism through targeted marketing and targeted infrastructure measures to help the region in the long term.

Conclusion and outlook

The withdrawal of the Geo-Nature Park and the Werra-Meißner-Kreis from the WTT raises questions about the future handling of the tourist infrastructure in the region. While some Thuringian members of the WTT are satisfied with the existing structures, others see urgent changes as necessary. This group, which wants more exchange and constant development, will now see whether there will be new approaches to meet the expectations of visitors and members. The challenge is to develop a good hand for the future of tourism in the region.