Urban development through tourism enhances urban life quality
In a unique research project led by Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the concept of hospitality is being reimagined as a strategic principle in urban development. The project, which commenced analysis in September 2023, focuses on the metropolitan regions of Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and Nuremberg.
The basis for this initiative is the model of the "ecosystem of hospitality," which combines spatial development for tourists and locals. This approach emphasizes hospitality not just as accommodation but as a catalyst for retail activity, community connection, cultural enrichment, and urban vitality.
One key aspect of this strategy is the transformation of hotels into curated retail and entertainment hubs. Rather than isolated lodging, these establishments are designed to be dynamic contributors to their neighbourhoods, incorporating retail and community spaces to attract both visitors and residents, thereby enhancing the urban experience and economic vitality.
Community engagement and place-making are also central to this approach. Hospitality-led developments foster interaction by creating spaces that serve broader community needs beyond tourists, thus supporting social cohesion and an enhanced sense of place, which is crucial in historic or mid-sized cities like Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and Nuremberg.
Moreover, this strategy integrates hospitality within urban regeneration, particularly in cities with rich history and war-damaged areas. Combining hospitality with thoughtful preservation and renewal supports economic regeneration while respecting local heritage and urban fabric.
Successful urban hospitality strategies involve collaboration among city planners, businesses, residents, and tourists to ensure improvements benefit all stakeholders and sustain local character. In this regard, the KU project team collaborates with IFG Ingolstadt, represented by Valentin Herbold.
The project also highlights the importance of considering cities in terms of atmosphere for more quality of life. A common goal is a culture of quality of life, and the boundaries between tourists and locals blur. For instance, the idea of supplementing static information boards on historical buildings with virtual reality applications received broad support.
In times of tight municipal finances, it is important for tourism to think broader. Tourism is always to be thought of as an enabling factor for various offers, according to Felix Hiemeyer. Integrating water into playgrounds and parks and facilitating year-round access to public gardens are common points in this approach. Targeted lighting could better showcase historical buildings in the three cities.
The regional workshop in Ingolstadt focused on more nature proximity, integration of rivers Danube and Schutter, traffic congestion, and vacancies. The Bavarian Center for Tourism funded this project.
In conclusion, this innovative approach to hospitality in urban development aims to foster mixed-use developments that enhance urban life, encourage economic activity, and enable community participation — turning hospitality into a lever for sustainable urban regeneration and development in Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and Nuremberg.
- As part of this innovative approach, the importance of lifestyle, learning, and cultural enrichment is emphasized in the urban development of Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and Nuremberg, with home-and-garden spaces and educational and self-development resources integrated into hospitality-led developments to foster long-term community connection and growth.
- To ensure that this development strategy is inclusive and beneficial for all stakeholders, it encourages learning and collaboration among city planners, businesses, residents, and tourists, promoting year-round access to public gardens, integrating water features into playgrounds and parks, and facilitating virtual reality applications on historical buildings for both tourists and locals alike, thereby enhancing the quality of life in these metropolitan regions.
