“About Tourism”: Az W Exhibition in aspern Seestadt
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From February 6 to March 2, the VHS Kulturgarage is all about travel.
Whether it’s skiing in the mountains, the annual summer holiday, or a weekend city trip: travel has become an integral part of our lifestyle. Tourism creates value, prosperity, and openness, but in many places also brings negative effects such as crowds, environmental impact, or rising housing costs.
The “About Tourism” exhibition by the Architekturzentrum Wien (Az W) explores the downsides of mass tourism and presents pioneering local and international solutions for a new way of traveling.
- At the invitation of the Seestadt Development Corporation Wien 3420, it will be on display from February 7 to March 2, 2025 at the VHS Kulturgarage.
- Opening and vernissage on Thursday, February 6
- At the panel discussion “Is Tourism Too Much for Us?” on Thursday, February 27, urban and tourism researcher Cornelia Dlabaja, Florian Van der Bellen, Head of Destination Development at PKF hospitality, and Katharina Ritter, co-curator of the exhibition, will discuss strategies such as the concept of “Decentralized Tourism.”
“As one of the largest urban development projects in Europe, Seestadt attracts visitors from all over the world. With the launch of its ‘Heartbeat Streets’ campaign in 2024, Vienna Tourism is also focusing on Seestadt as one of Vienna’s must-see neighborhoods outside the historic city center. With our innovative strategies for a sustainable and climate-friendly urban future, we are focusing on aspects that will also be crucial for the tourism of tomorrow. That’s why it’s doubly important for us to provide space for this discussion,” says Robert Grüneis, CEO of the development corporation Wien 3420 aspern Development AG.
How does sustainable tourism work?
Hotspots are struggling with the influx of visitors, while other places are left behind. Municipalities are often torn: on the one hand, they benefit from tourism, but on the other, they are increasingly noticing unwanted side effects.
How can tourism remain fit for the future in times of climate crisis, wars, looming further pandemics, a shortage of skilled workers, and an ongoing energy crisis? What role do spatial planning and architecture play? The exhibition highlights key aspects of tourism such as mobility, urban tourism, interactions with agriculture, climate change, the privatization of natural beauty, the transformation of accommodation types, and explores whether and how tourism development is planned. Above all, it seeks out potential for transformation.
“Our ‘holiday fair’ of a different kind is aimed at all of us and makes it clear: urgent action is needed. But above all, with many positive examples and possible solutions, we want to show that things can be done differently. We are very pleased that with the VHS Kulturgarage we can use a particularly attractive location in a still young part of Vienna and reach a new audience,” says Angelika Fitz, Director of the Architekturzentrum Wien.
Further information
Regular opening hours from 07.02. - 02.03.2025:
Wed and Fri-Sun: 2:30-7:30 pm, Thu: 2:30-9:00 pm
- OPENING: Thu, 6.2. from 6:00 pm
- PANEL DISCUSSION “Is tourism too much for us?”: Thu 27.2., doors open 6:00 pm, starts 6:30 pm
- In cooperation with Az W, Wien 3420 also offers a comprehensive educational program:
- Guided tours for adults
- Workshops for school classes (registration required)
- Lego workshops for children (registration required)
All information and registration options can be found at: www.aspern-seestadt.at/ueber-tourismus
Location: VHS Kulturgarage, Am Ostrompark 18, 1220 Vienna
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