Tourism award for the dinosaur trail app
The winners of this year's Thuringian Tourism Award were announced at the Thuringian Tourism Day on June 17, 2019. Jena-based Rooom AG received the special prize for "Digital Solutions in Tourism" for the innovative implementation of its Trixi Trias dinosaur trail virtual reality concept. Managing Director Hans Elstner accepted the award together with Jena city forester Olaf Schubert from Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee. The Thuringian Tourism Prize is awarded for outstanding tourism offers. The special prize honors Rooom, a company that meets the challenges of tourism with intelligent digital solutions.
The exemplary concept was developed on the initiative of Jena city forester Olaf Schubert in close cooperation with other local partners, such as the Jenzig e.V. mountain society, Jena City Forest, Paradiesfilm GmbH and the Institute of Geosciences at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Olaf Schubert says: "We are not only happy about this award, but above all we are happy that our idea is successful and that we can experience the positive response to our offer at Jenzig. Children get out and about in nature and learn exciting history and stories through play. That's great!"
The dinosaur adventure trail has been part of the network of hiking trails in Jena's surrounding area since October 2018. Dinosaur fossils provided the idea of presenting the geological features in a nature trail to create a new highlight for tourists to experience. Trixi embodies a "dinosaur girl" from the Triassic period. She leads visitors to the summit of the Jenzig mountain via several stations. Families, kindergartens and school classes use the specially developed app. Thanks to augmented reality, visitors can bring the dinosaurs to life on site using a cell phone or tablet. As a reward for the climb, they can enjoy the view of a virtual Saale Valley Ice Age panorama at the top station. For the first time, a bridge has been successfully built between the natural and virtual experience.
The project was financially supported by JenaKultur and Kommunalservice Jena, among others.
Carsten Müller, the deputy plant manager of JenaKultur responsible for tourism development in the City of Light, and Jena's city forester Olaf Schubert are convinced that the SaaleHorizontale tourist attraction will be further enhanced with the dinosaur trail and increase the attractiveness of Jena as a location. "Our common goal is to develop Jena and the SaaleHorizontale into a reference location for innovative forms of digital tourism over the next few years. The primary aim is to combine the experience of authentic, real places and fascinating nature with the possibilities of digital information technology. The perfect start has been made," says Carsten Müller and adds: "We are proud that two years after the completion of our tourism strategy, the Thuringian Tourism Award has gone to Jena for the first time. The success and realization of the project shows what can be achieved when the best minds from the analogue and digital worlds work together in an uncomplicated way on innovative solutions for their customers. You could say in the best sense of the word - typically Jena! We would like to continue with this strong team play."
Using the contact form developed for Trixi Trias, the players involved are happy to respond to the broad interest from all over Germany. Visitors can find out more in advance, contact the local partners or leave feedback at www.saurierpfad.de.