Eyes on Attergau!

Eyes on Attergau! 

Frankly, do you know what Attergau is? Let me help you – I give you some choices and you pick the answer you think will apply: 

• It’s a traditional Austrian dish, something to do with venison
• It’s some rare kind of plant that you can find on the mountain
• It’s a tourism association in Upper Austria, between Linz and Salzburg

The right answer is C! Have you guessed? If not, than shame on you and do some geographical research ;) Just kidding…

The Attergau is pretty small, well it was not in the past if you ask our head of local tradition (Heimatverein), but the Attergau lost land. So nowadays little Attergau consists of three villages, one church, thirteen fire brigades, and 200 meters of lakefront. The people are friendly (and yes, we are friendly, because it is our natural behavior), fond of beer, wine sometimes schnapps (there’s a social ulterior motive behind that) and we are proud about our tradition (from time to time I get that feeling the emperor is still living among us and the people don’t mind).

 

By now you may asking yourself why you are reading stuff about Attergau -a place you have never heard and been before (but you should visit us – with the lakes and the beautiful mountains around us, it can be really kitschy…). Well, I can give you a reason to read on. Wellbeing and Health. I’d say that’s a bloody good reason to read on. The EU had the same thought (what a coincidence…) and brought the project group WelDest into the destination Attergau. Well, 14 people from six different countries and no one has a clue what or who the Attergau is. Three days a constantly packed with workshops, so there is hardly time to bring them closer to Attergau. At least I tried with celtic ceremony, yoga in the forest and local dining. I am not sure if I was successful, but the project is already a success in the destination – it is bringing us on the right track!

Working at WelDest

You want to see how WelDest team is working?

Have a look at our Facebook site (link)

Welcome in Austria

Dear project-team,

the Austrian Team is welcoming all participants here in Austria.
We wish you and us very creative working days!

GREAT to have you here :-)!!

Daniel
FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences

Welcome to the official Blog of the ERASMUS project WelDest "Health & Well-being in Tourism Destination"

The aim of WelDest is to create a development framework to be used by public bodies, destination management organizations (DMOs) and private companies at tourism destinations willing to strengthen the elements influencing the well-being level of tourists and locals alike. The framework, supported by educational material, enables development of the tourism destination towards a more holistic and sustainable H&WB destination.

The main research question is: How can the destination be developed into a health and well-being destination?

The objectives, each based on the previous objective(s) :

1. To outline, via research, the key service supply, resources, staff competencies and elements of H&WB at tourist destinations appreciated by both tourists and locals. Research will be conducted on: tourists, managers of local H&WB tourism companies, managers/ experts of e.g. destination development organizations, environmental administration, and health care administration and policy makers.
2. To identify or strengthen the potential for business opportunities in tourism and leisure and to foster innovation around H&WB based services and destination development

To contribute to lifelong learning at various educational levels, between disciplines and related industries. The learning process is supported by the following outcomes :

• An electronic handbook “Keys to developing a holistic health & well-being tourism destination” (working title), including a self-assessment and development tool, to be used by public and private bodies developing their businesses and destinations. For use in tertiary educational institutions with various types/levels of study, the handbook will be accompanied by course design, including educator instructions.
• A blog providing industry, academia and citizens with new opportunities to improve and share their knowledge on H&WB and tourism related issues.

After the completion of WelDest we foresee the following changes:

Target groups, such as customers, Health and Well-Being and tourism service suppliers, DMOs, and policy makers, will have a better understanding of what constitutes a health and well-beign destination. There will exist a set of health and well-being tourism indicators, definitions and typologies, as well as a self-assessment and development tool for destinations. The target groups will have become familiar with these via dissemination activities in several languages. The indicators and definitions will serve especially the information needs in international tourism.

The above supports the development and profiling of a destination. This will also facilitate the service suppliers at a destination in developing their offering and marketing. The more detailed recognition and definition of health and well-being elements, especially nature-based resources, can help to (re)vitalize development also in rural areas. A well-defined destination profile helps attract the desired tourist segments whose needs can be better met. This increases customer satisfaction and leads to a holistic destination experience. 

As citizens’ knowledge about the importance and possibilities of preventative health activities grow, the amount and range of health and well-being services offered by the private sector will increase. This will create job opportunities, for which WelDest research will have also defined the key competencies and skills needed.

All parties (teachers, researchers, students, industry representatives) involved in WelDest will have been exposed to a European project learning new skills and exchanging knowledge in many areas (e.g. gaining language, cultural, digital, research, subject-area, and project competencies).