Tourist information center in Zubringer, Baden-Baden, to shut down as per Commission's decision.
Baden-Baden's "i-Point" Visitor Center to Close, Paving Way for Modern Replacement
In a series of decisions set to be made by committees and the city council, the "i-Point" visitor center at the access road to Baden-Baden is set to close, with plans for a modern replacement in the works.
The "i-Point" building, an architecturally striking structure over the Oos with a corrugated iron facade and colorful metal flags at the top, has been serving as a tourist information branch office for decades. However, the center's closure is due to a combination of factors, including its poor structural and maintenance condition and the decreasing demand for traditional tourist information due to the age of the internet.
The branch office, which also housed a municipal tourism call center used for answering digital inquiries (80% of the time), will cease operations as early as October. The closure will not affect the municipal tourism call center or the office space used by the municipal fire department, which is also located in the "i-Point" building.
The employees previously accommodated at the feeder office could temporarily move into offices in the main office of the Tourism GmbH in Schloss Solms. The closure is expected to result in a saving of 18,000 euros in rent per year for the Tourism GmbH.
Room bookings, ticket purchases, and useful city information can now be found online. The Tourism GmbH plans to extend the service hours of the ticket service in the Kolonnaden, in front of the Kurhaus, to seven days a week to compensate for the closure of the "i-Point". The main office of the Tourist Information has been housed in the Kurhaus-Kolonnaden since 2018.
If the committees approve, the closure of the "i-Point" will be followed by a redevelopment project in Roden on Röderberg near Saarlouis. The next steps regarding this project include infrastructure upgrading, specifically relocating the entrance to improve traffic flow, along with adding greenery and fast charging stations for electric vehicles. The goal is to create a professionally designed, accessible, and appealing visitor center that will serve as a central hub for all guests and citizens.
The Tourism GmbH envisions a centrally located, modern visitor center for Baden-Baden in the future. The visitor center is intended to showcase the city's tourist brand identity and generate additional revenue through an expanded product and service offering. It is crucial for the future of Baden-Baden's tourism industry.
The main committee and subsequently the city council will discuss the task of the "i-Point" at the access road in their meetings on September 22 and 29. The decisions made in these meetings will shape the future of tourism in Baden-Baden.
