The municipalities of Mautern, Bergern, Furth, Rossatz-Arnsdorf and Schönbühel-Aggsbach will be intensifying their collaboration over the coming years and focusing on the common positioning of the south bank. Under the direction of Martin Vogg, who was previously responsible for the project Wachau 2010 plus, existing offers should be combined with new ones and wrapped up into bookable packages, starting with the two locations of Maria Langegg and the Aggsbach Charterhouse.

The Wachau project is the first LIFE project implemented in the region whose goal was to conserve the region’s most endangered habitats. This resulted in three focal points: Lively Danube, dry grasslands and natural forest.

The currently running project “Wilderness Wetland Wachau” is intended to follow on from two previous LIFE projects in the region. Extensive measures for revitalising the remains of old river courses are planned during the project period. Existing areas of riparian forest on already existing and newly created islands should be improved and expanded. The creation of spawning waters is envisaged for highly endangered amphibians such as the yellow-bellied toad and the Danube northern crested newt, nests will be created for white-tailed eagles and valuable old trees will be protected.

The LIFE+ project Mostviertel-Wachau includes measures on the Danube and the Ybbs river. Revitalisation measures are being implemented on the Ybbs in Amstetten and on the Pielach, and disconnected side arms of the Danube are being reconnected to the river in the Wachau.

The loop hiking trail on both sides of the Danube connects existing trails and makes it possible to explore the unique landscape of the Wachau on foot. In this way, the Wachau can be appreciated from a new perspective on 14 stages distributed over approx. 180 varied kilometres.

The aim of Wachau 2010plus was to further develop the cultural and landscape gem of the Wachau by restaging its cultural and tourism activities in harmony with the people who live and work in the region. Doing so should reveal the special quality of this cultural landscape to visitors.

One topic that has preoccupied the region for many years is the lack of a crossing over the Danube between Melk and Spitz near the towns of Aggsbach-Markt and Aggsbach-Dorf. After several unsuccessful attempts to set up a conventional bicycle ferry between them, the two towns are now pursuing an unconventional approach: in the future, they could be connected by a cableway across the Danube.

A lot of restructuring has taken place in the municipality of Krems and at its affiliated establishments, associations and contractors in recent years. These processes have given rise to the company Krems Tourismus GmbH, whose sole shareholder is the town of Krems.

Since March 2012, 52 “Best of Wachau” hoteliers and hosts have been working as strong and representative partners of the very highest standard and facilitate high-quality advertising of the Wachau as the region’s flagship establishments. Numerous joint activities and measures have been developed and implemented to date. Special attention has always been given to consistent further training of the establishments in the form of high-quality qualification activities.

The regional quality campaign "Best of Wachau" was officially launched in March 2012. In the following years, the initiative succeeded in attaining a high degree of acceptance amongst partner establishments as well as a high level of international recognition.