Panel discussion in Gunzenhausen: Focus on the future of culture and tourism!

Panel discussion in Gunzenhausen: Focus on the future of culture and tourism!

There was a lot going on in Gunzenhausen on January 20, 2026. Around 400 interested people flocked to the town hall to listen to a panel discussion. Here, five mayoral candidates presented their visions for the future of the city, where a lot is currently happening. The occasion? The local elections on March 8, 2026, in which not only a new mayor, but also a district administrator, district and city council will be elected.

There are many ideas and approaches among the candidates to take Gunzenhausen to the next level. The topic of tourism plays a central role here. The tourism sector has been particularly challenged in recent years. This is also evident in the Germany-wide context, where tourism has almost reached pre-pandemic levels and, with 2.8 million jobs, is a central economic sector for many communities. Gunzenhausen still has to catch up here, because local tourism could be much larger than it is currently. The importance of a well-developed tourist infrastructure should not be underestimated. It not only improves the quality of life of the locals, but also creates opportunities for local business and commerce, says the German Senate Association for Tourism.

Richard Fitz says goodbye

The farewell to Karl-Heinz Fitz is particularly noteworthy. The long-time mayor is no longer running for reasons of age. During the panel discussion, he expressed his pride in the achievements during his two terms in office. “I am grateful for the many projects that were implemented during this time,” explained Fitz and thanked city council members, local speakers and all city employees. “Let us continue on this path together, because our homeland deserves it,” was his appeal to the citizens.

Since the mayoral candidates repeatedly emphasized the importance of tourism during the discussion, opinions on how Gunzenhausen can attract more guests are diverse. Some focus on strengthening cultural tourism, while others want to focus on nature-based tourism. A well-thought-out plan to support these areas could prove promising.

An appeal to the community

The candidates' opinions during the discussion also reflect citizens' concerns that the cultural offering in Gunzenhausen is already high, but the attraction for tourists still needs to be increased. The participants in the discussion see this as a challenge that the future city leadership must face.

The pandemic has not only brought difficulties but also opened up new opportunities for rural tourism. This should be used to position Gunzenhausen as an attractive destination. The decision on suitable measures to expand tourism should be left to the cities and municipalities so that suitable local solutions can be found that also take into account the wishes and needs of the population.

The discussion was a significant step towards active citizen participation and provided an outlook on the challenges that await the new city administration.