Sustainable
Tourism development 
in LEIPZIG REGION

On April 23, more than 90 tourism stakeholders from Leipzig and the surrounding region accepted the invitation to the 4th Partner Meeting on Tourism Sustainability Strategy at the Red Bull Arena. For the first time, representatives from the German National Tourist Board and the Sustainability Working Group of the Magic Cities Network also participated, enriching the meeting with supra-regional perspectives. In addition to a status report on the sustainability strategy, keynote speeches offered diverse perspectives on sustainable destination development and showcased concrete approaches from practical experience. A particular focus was on the EmpCo guidelines, which were discussed in a concluding panel discussion with various stakeholders following a presentation. Beyond the professional insights, the day offered ample opportunities for personal exchange and networking.

A pilot project for the construction of solar carports will launch at the Leipzig Trade Fair Park & ​​Ride facility in spring 2026. The City of Leipzig will install photovoltaic canopies on existing parking spaces, generating renewable electricity while simultaneously protecting vehicles from the elements. The project is being implemented in cooperation with municipal partners and will be scientifically monitored. The goal is to efficiently utilize sealed surfaces for two purposes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and further expand Leipzig's sustainable mobility infrastructure. The facility will serve as a model for potential expansion to other locations within the city and strengthens the link between the energy transition and environmentally friendly mobility.

K.AI.NREZEPT provides commercial kitchens with a digital assistant for sustainable menu and meal planning. Developed by the network surrounding the hybrid Foodhub Leipzig, the tool combines artificial intelligence with the NO-RECEIPT approach and focuses specifically on bioregional products sourced from within a 100-kilometer radius of Leipzig. Kitchens receive customizable suggestions that take into account regional availability, different cooking systems, and various target audiences. This makes the integration of regional ingredients into catering more predictable and flexible. The current BETA version can already be tested online and offers initial insights into AI-supported recipe planning for a future-proof, regional cuisine.

The Leipzig vocal ensemble amarcord founded the amarcord Music & Nature Foundation in early 2026. The foundation's goal is to create a long-term link between the promotion of young musical talent and environmental activism. In addition to supporting artists and ensembles, the foundation will also fund environmental projects and initiate concerts to benefit nature conservation. Building on experience gained from projects such as the International Festival for Vocal Music "a cappella," the foundation aims to foster a collaborative network of music and nature enthusiasts.

On February 2, 2026, eleven Leipzig manufacturers met at designer Silke Wagler's studio for the annual kickoff event of the "Leipzig Loves Regional Products" network. The event was hosted by LTM GmbH, which initiated the network in 2021 and now unites approximately 35 regional businesses. Key marketing initiatives from the past year were presented, along with planned activities for 2026, including communication formats, event participation, and international outreach. The cross-sector exchange also opened up new perspectives for collaborations. The meeting highlighted the contribution of regional manufacturers to sustainable value creation and the diverse tourism offerings in Leipzig.

On January 10, 2026, Taucha was officially honored as the first Fairtrade Town in the district of North Saxony during the New Year's reception. Fairtrade Ambassador Manfred Holz presented the award. The process began with a town council resolution on January 25, 2024, initiated by a motion from the Green Party (Alliance 90/The Greens). Since then, a steering committee consisting of Mayor Tobias Meier, pharmacist Jana Glöckner, Susanne Pahl, and Christine Rademacher has coordinated the activities. Numerous events have been held in recent years, such as an exhibition and a Fairtrade breakfast. Local stakeholders, including retailers, restaurants, and schools, are actively involved. With this award, Taucha underscores its commitment to fair trade and conscious consumption.

Since June 2025, Leipzig's network of environmentally friendly transport alternatives has continued to grow: Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (Leipzig Transport Company) has put 15 new large mobility stations into operation, with three more to follow shortly. The stations combine public transport, car, bike, and e-scooter sharing, as well as e-charging infrastructure and, in some cases, taxi parking spaces. A total of over 200 locations are now available within the city. In addition, smaller mobility points are to be established in residential and commercial areas in the future. The expansion program of the city and LVB calls for around 2030 stations by 400. New to the offering: The Halle-based company "JETZT mobil" has been operating at 1 locations since June 64, becoming the second regional car-sharing provider.

On May 13, 2025, LTM GmbH, together with the LEIPZIG REGION Tourism Association, hosted the third partner meeting – this time at the Old Crane Factory in Naunhof. Participants' mobility was supported with an MRB event ticket. The focus was on the implementation status of the strategy, new measures for 3, and inspiring good practice examples from the city and region. The day was rounded off with intensive networking and a tour of the listed crane factory, which itself serves as a model for sustainable event locations. The brochure on the tourism sustainability strategy was presented for the first time at the partner meeting – it offers practical guidance for sustainable tourism development in the coming years.

On March 13, 2025, the participation workshop "City-Country Kitchen: For a Sustainable Gastronomy in Saxony" will take place in Leipzig. The workshop aims to increase the proportion of regional and organic regional products in Saxon gastronomy and thus promote sustainable and future-proof cuisine that inspires guests. The event is aimed at players in corporate, individual and fast-food catering as well as representatives from administration, politics and the food industry in Leipzig, the Leipzig and North Saxony districts. In addition to an interactive workshop, there will also be an insight into companies and the free advice program from City-Country Kitchen. Registration for the event is possible until March 12.

Leipzig has been nominated for the European Mobility Award and is therefore one of the three finalists. The city convinced the jury with a series of measures to promote climate-friendly mobility. This included in particular the car-free day on the inner city ring, which was implemented as part of the European Mobility Week. The award ceremony will take place in Brussels at the end of March 2025. It will then be decided whether Leipzig actually wins the award.

The CO2 calculator "E-Tool Culture" was awarded at this year's "eku Future Prize 2024 for Energy, Climate, Environment".

The web-based emissions calculator is a cooperation project between the cities of Leipzig and Dresden and is the only one nationwide that is specifically tailored to cultural institutions. It can be used by all cultural institutions in Germany, permanently and free of charge, after registration.

Leipzig enjoys sustainably! Under this motto, the highlight of the Allerlei to go ideas competition took place on November 27.11.2024, XNUMX: the award ceremony for the best and most innovative ideas of the submitted projects on the topic of reusable items. The aim of these projects was to establish and/or make visible reusable solutions in the take-away sector. This was organized by BUND Leipzig under the direction of the municipal company Stadtreinigung Leipzig. Winners were honored in two categories: from the "Civil Society" category and the "Companies" category.

Since the 80s, the protection of water and the landscape in and around Leipzig has been a central theme of many environmental efforts. In order to pursue this goal even more intensively, a new milestone has now been reached: the founding of the Central German Water Forum.

On November 14, 2024, almost 60 experts from a wide range of associations came together and discussed various topics based on the overall tourism concept for Central Germany. Regular exchange rounds will follow.

Would you like to experience and enjoy regional delicacies from different destinations in Germany in one place? That's exactly what the Country and Gourmet Market in Berlin invited you to do in September 2024.

The LEIPZIG REGION destination took advantage of this great opportunity and was there with four regional manufacturers from the "Leipzig loves regional products" network initiated by the LTM. From tempting coffees from the ELSTERMÜHLE coffee roastery, to sweet and savory spreads from the Kern & Stein Manufaktur, to magnificent handicrafts from the Claudia Biehne porcelain studio and exceptional leather goods from the Rothöll manufactory, the Leipzig region has a lot to offer.