The tourism region of Upper Swabia-Allgäu is experiencing increased demand in the short break and weekend tourism segment for offers that directly link agriculture, crafts and gastronomy.
Agricultural businesses and medium-sized food producers in the Württemberg part of the Allgäu region are increasingly taking advantage of this trend to develop new sources of income through diversification. In addition to the primary production of agricultural products, long-established family farms are increasingly investing in tourism infrastructure, for example by expanding holiday apartments, farm shops, and restaurants.
An example of this economic realignment is the Rösslerhof farm in Schlier, whose historical roots trace back to the Benedictine Weingarten Abbey in the 13th century. Today's dairy farm combines traditional arable and grassland farming with an attached farm café, an organic farm shop, and several holiday accommodations. This integration allows agricultural businesses to increase local added value while simultaneously creating a direct link to the end consumer, thus increasing their economic resilience to fluctuating producer prices on the global market.
The close interconnectedness within the regional economic cycles is also evident in the cooperation between agricultural producers and local artisans. Some of the Rösslerhof's dairy products are processed at the nearby Bauhofer cheese dairy. The raw milk cheese produced there matures in specialized storage facilities, where modern robotic technology is used to regularly turn and wash the wheels, which can weigh up to 80 kilograms. The integration of demonstration dairies and retail outlets into the production process serves as a marketing tool to position artisanal production methods in the premium segment.
This infrastructure is complemented by the regional hotel industry, such as the Hotel Zum Schloss in nearby Amtzell, which focuses on culinary concepts featuring regional products. To meet the demands of changing leisure habits, hotels are increasingly investing in additional services such as e-bike rentals for active tourism. Industry analyses in the tourism sector demonstrate that combining natural surroundings, regional gastronomy, and technical amenities are key success factors in attracting high-spending target groups for multi-day stays in rural areas.