fairwärts Good Practice Competition

fairwärts Competition 2023/24

The Goal

The aim of the fairwärts initiative is to foster responsible practices among tourism stakeholders and to promote the implementation of sustainable activities within Germany’s tourism sector. This is the mission we pursue through our educational and competition-based project.

Moving “fairwärts” towards a future-proof tourism model

Tourism plays a key role when it comes to sustainability and responsibility towards both the environment and local communities in travel destinations. The global COVID-19 crisis has further intensified the call for sustainable tourism development and a responsible recovery of the industry. Tourism stakeholders are now challenged to establish resilient and adaptable business models and to create the conditions for long-term sustainable tourism development.

This is exactly where fairwärts comes in. As a competition, awareness-raising, and educational program, it supports tourism stakeholders in gradually transforming their operations towards sustainability and shaping a responsible restart.
Look forward to engaging learning opportunities focused on the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of responsible tourism.

Eine hügelige Landschaft, die durch den Sonnenunter in den Farben Geld, Orange und Rot erscheint.

The fairwärts Good Practice Competition 2023/24

In the fifth round of the fairwärts Good Practice Competition, we invited the tourism industry to share their best practices for responsible tourism and to stand out as pioneers in the field.

Applications were open to accommodation providers, tour operators, and destinations based in Germany.

Submissions could be made in the following thematic areas:

Küche mit lachenden Menschen, etwas bedeckt mit Mehl.

Decent Work for All

Hand, die eine Glaskugel hält, auf welcher der Fokus liegt. In ihr spiegeln sich Efeu und Himmel wieder.

Circular Economy

Climate Action & Adaptation

Raising Awareness among Guests

Further details on each topic area are available by selecting the respective goal.

Auf dem Bild ist ein Pfad zwischen Bäumen an der Küste zu sehen.

What do we mean by “Good Practice”?

Good practices are exemplary, field-tested measures, initiatives, or concepts that promote environmentally and socially sustainable, responsible (global) tourism. Such approaches do not come at the expense of people or nature but instead contribute to improving lives, enriching experiences, and protecting our planet.

In short: We were looking for innovative and creative approaches, including digital solutions, that demonstrate how tourism can be designed sustainably to benefit everyone.

A key requirement was that submitted good practices are embedded in the core business, reflect the values of the organization, and are not isolated, one-off measures. Eligible submissions included initiatives currently being implemented or completed within the past four years.

The fairwärts Jury

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

Appointed professor at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in 2022, where he established and now leads the Master’s program in Sustainable Tourism Management. He also works as an independent tourism consultant in development cooperation and research, and serves on several advisory boards, including Futouris, TourCert, and the UNESCO Global Geoparks National Committee.

Gabriele Landen

From 2003 to 2019, she served as honorary chair of the national tourism, leisure, and wellness division of the German trade union ver.di. She advocates for fair and dignified working conditions across the tourism sector, addressing challenges such as declining standards due to the avoidance of collective agreements.

Dirk Dunkelberg

Deputy Managing Director and Head of Membership, Committees, and Projects at the German Tourism Association (DTV), where he is responsible, among other things, for sustainable tourism development in Germany. He also coordinates publicly funded projects, particularly in the field of sustainable tourism. He is a member of the advisory board of the federal “Blue Belt Germany” program (BMDV/BMUV) and a regular guest at the German Association of Cities’ Tourism Conference.

Dr. Christian Eichert

Christian Eichert, an agricultural economist with a doctoral degree, has been Head of Consulting and Solutions at myclimate Germany since February 2024. In this role, he drives the further development of tools and methodologies and brings them to market readiness. Myclimate is currently expanding a comprehensive advisory portfolio focused on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as climate strategy consulting.

Since summer 2022, Eichert has also represented the German Association for Sustainable Business (BNW) as regional spokesperson for Baden-Württemberg.

Prior to joining myclimate, Eichert was Managing Partner and corporate spokesperson of Blumberg, the first eco-certified and consistently sustainable full-service agency for strategy, communication, and events. He also served for many years as Managing Director of Bioland in Baden-Württemberg. In addition, from 2011 to 2021, he was an appointed member of the advisory council for sustainable development of the state government of Baden-Württemberg.

Christian Leetz

Based in Barcelona, he worked as a freelance journalist for major German media such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, FAZ, and Frankfurter Rundschau. From 2009 to 2016, he headed the travel and supplements department at Funke Media Group NRW. In 2016, he founded TN-Deutschland and has since served as publisher of the news service, producing trade publications focused on digital topics.

Kamila Pasko

Since December 2021, Kamila Pasko has been a shareholder and Managing Director of WoodenValley gGmbH. She holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability and Education (2014). Her background includes experience in tourism as a product manager and in customer service, as well as expertise in sustainable development, sustainability communication, and the management and marketing of cultural and educational programs. She is also actively involved as a volunteer with the NGO Cradle to Cradle and the environmental agency Umhverfisstofnun in Reykjavík.

Gain deeper insights into the fairwärts project and get inspired:

Our fairwärts approach

The winners 2021/2022

Bergsteiger auf dem Berg mit Talausblick.

The winners 2020

Competition process

Eine Frau steht auf einem Berg und jubelt.

Competition award

Knowledge & Learning Opportunities

In addition to the competition, fairwärts offers a wide range of free and accessible learning formats, including: Explainer videos, E-learning modules, Web seminars. Actively engage with the key action areas of sustainable tourism development and contribute, through your company or organization, to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Eine Nahaufnahme einer Go Pro, die ein Video von Schwänen macht.

Video Explanations

Fensterausblick auf das Weinfeld und die See bei blauen Himmel und Sonne.

Web seminars

Ein offenes Buch liegt auf einem Holzstamm im Wald.

E-learning modules

Additional learning resources from previous fairwärts rounds

Can’t wait for this year’s competition and the new learning modules? Get inspired already and expand your knowledge with our free fairwärts resources from previous competition rounds.