"Quartier im Wandel" receives the Tourism Innovation Award 2025

The KTG Karlsruhe Tourismus GmbH was honored for the project it submitted as part of the redesign of Karlsruhe's market square. At this year's award ceremony for the Tourism Innovation Prize of the Baden-Württemberg Tourism Association (TVBW), the project "A changing quarter - cooperative development of the Karlsruhe market square into a tourist experience" was awarded third place.

The prize, which was awarded under this year's motto "Spaces in Transition", recognizes projects that reinterpret public or private spaces and thus offer both locals and guests an extraordinary experience.

Presentation of the Tourism Innovation Award of the Baden-Württemberg Tourism Association 2025 to KTG © Thomas B. Jones

Market square as the lively heart of the city

The project, which has been running since 2022, aims to Karlsruhe marketplace into an attractive space with a high quality of stay. After years of intensive renovation work, the market square is now once again living up to its role as the lively center of the city. For the first time, KTG is contributing its expertise in tourism to an urban development project. Through targeted measures such as cultural events and activities, it is actively helping to revitalize the market square and build a bridge between tourism and urban quality of life.

The jury was particularly impressed by the innovative combination of tourism and urban planning. "The concept of 'spaces in transition' can also take on larger dimensions, as the Quartier im Wandel impressively demonstrates. Here, an entire marketplace is being designed as a living space - a model for destination management in the 21st century," explained association president Dr. Patrick Rapp.

Tourism as a driving force for urban development

The award underlines the important role of tourism in sustainable urban design. The project is an example of how cooperation with local stakeholders can not only enhance an urban space, but also turn it into an identity-creating experience for locals and tourists alike.

KTG sees the Innovation Award as confirmation of its cooperative approach and as an incentive to continue to drive forward the development of the marketplace with commitment. "We are delighted about the award and the recognition of our work. It shows that the combination of tourism and urban development creates real added value - for citizens, guests and the entire city," said a spokesperson for KTG.

With the Tourism Innovation Award, which has been presented annually since 2024, the TVBW recognizes creative ideas and extraordinary projects that shape the future of tourism in Baden-Württemberg.

You can find more information on the "Changing Neighborhoods" project here.

"Neighborhoods in Transition" is a project as part of the City Transformation Process of the City of Karlsruhe.