Network as a success factor: Castles and palaces in the Münsterland network region-wide

First network meeting as part of the "Münsterland Castles and Palaces Region" funding project

MÜNSTERLAND.LÜDINGHAUSEN. A major project is being implemented. With a network meeting yesterday afternoon at Burg Vischering in Lüdinghausen, the "Palaces and Castles Region Münsterland" funding project launched one of a total of four projects. Around 60 castle and palace operators, owners, volunteers and actors from associations, municipalities or tourist information offices came from all over the Münsterland to get to know each other, to exchange ideas and to network.

"Network building may sound unspectacular, but it is enormously important for our region," emphasised Kerstin Clev, project manager at the project coordinator Münsterland e.V. "The project is intended to make the castles and palaces in Münsterland more tangible and to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises. If the hospitality industry, service providers, crafts, trade, cultural and leisure facilities network with the castles and palaces, innovative products and services can be created that benefit everyone."

At the network meeting, the participants not only had the opportunity to exchange ideas, but also gained insights into the project and were networked not only personally, but also digitally: On the online platform TiM (Touristiker im Münsterland) all participants can join together in forums and groups and also communicate and exchange ideas across the Münsterland. In a short active workshop, they already created personal profiles and tried out how the platform works directly on their own laptops, smartphones or tablets.

"We see great potential in TiM. Networking across the Münsterland only makes sense if it also works autonomously," said Christine Kolm, project manager at Münsterland e.V. "Digital networking can be just as good a tool as personal conversation. Both together are the best solution." Further meetings with different focuses are planned at regular intervals.

At 10 million euros, the "Palaces and Castles Region Münsterland" funding project is one of the largest tourism projects the region has ever jointly initiated. The district of Coesfeld had already done the groundwork: its existing network of castle owners is to be further expanded through the network meetings.

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The municipalities and districts of the region, Münsterland e.V., tourism stakeholders as well as castle and palace owners and operators work together in the funding project "Castles and Palaces Region Münsterland". From 2019 to 2022, the castles and palaces region is to be strengthened with four projects: information and guidance system, cycle tourism infrastructure, quality of experience and expansion of an SME network. In addition, the premium product "100 Castles Route" will be further developed. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and was developed as part of the Regionale 2016.