Thurgau Tourism

What Thurgau Tourism does

Thurgau Tourism (Thurgau Tourismus, TGT) is the official destination management organization (DMO) for the Thurgau-Bodensee region in Eastern Switzerland. Organized as a Verein (nonprofit association) founded in 1909 and headquartered in Romanshorn, it serves approximately 500 member businesses across hospitality, gastronomy, leisure providers, cultural institutions, agriculture, and municipalities. The organization operates three physical tourism information offices in Arbon, Frauenfeld, and Kreuzlingen, and is a member of Switzerland Tourism and the Swisstainable sustainability program (Level II since 2024). Its Strategy 2025-2028 explicitly targets repositioning the region from a 'secret tip' to a 'must-see destination' within the four-country Lake Constance (Bodensee) area. Thurgau Tourism functions as a B2B platform for members and a B2C marketing engine for visitors, with no native mobile app and a website-first distribution model.

The core product is the digital platform thurgau-bodensee.ch, powered by the TourismusWeb CMS from TSO AG, which integrates an accommodation finder (Unterkunfts-Finder), restaurant finder (Gastro-Finder), experience finder (Erlebnis-Finder), the Erlebnisshop booking engine, gift voucher sales (Thurgau-Gutscheine), and themed editorial content (Bierstrasse, Erlebnisprogramm, castle tours, wine routes). Two flagship guest cards anchor the visitor experience: the Gästekarte Oskar (free Ostwind public transport from the first overnight stay) and the Bodensee Card Plus (free entry to attractions across the four-country Bodensee region, distributed through 100+ partner businesses). The B2B partner portal (partner.thurgau-bodensee.ch) supports ~500 members with webinars, a knowledge database, and event management. Sustainability is delivered through the myclimate 'Cause We Care' program (1.2% levy on bookings, matched by TGT) and the OK:GO accessibility initiative. No proprietary AI capabilities are disclosed; the technology stack is conventional third-party SaaS.

The revenue model combines four streams: annual membership fees from ~500 member businesses (recurring subscription), commissions on bookings facilitated through the Erlebnisshop and accommodation channel (transaction fees), gift voucher sales at 100+ partner businesses (transaction fees), and the matched myclimate 'Cause We Care' contribution (transaction fee). Membership fees are structured via the TourismusBeitrag TG levy. Lead generation relies on a mix of content marketing, social media (#typischthurgau), paid search and social advertising (Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok), email/WhatsApp newsletters, PR via a dedicated Medienportal, and signature events (Openair Frauenfeld, slowUp Bodensee, Paddel-Parade, Schlossfestspiele). Strategic customers span premium hotels (Bad Horn Hotel & Spa, Kartause Ittingen, Hotel Arenenberg), cultural attractions (autobau erlebniswelt, Conny-Land, Bernina Creative Center), transport (SBS, URh, Thurbo), and food/beverage (Macardo Swiss Distillery, Erlebnisweingut Burkhart, Mosterei Möhl). A leadership change occurred in September 2025.

Name

Thurgau Tourism

Legal name

Thurgau Tourismus

Website

https://thurgau-bodensee.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thurgau Tourism (Thurgau Tourismus) is the official destination management organization for the Thurgau-Bodensee region in Eastern Switzerland, serving approximately 500 member businesses through the digital platform thurgau-bodensee.ch, the Gästekarte Oskar and Bodensee Card Plus guest cards, the Erlebnisshop experience booking engine, and three physical tourism information offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural/Heritage Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAF), Culinary Walking & Market Tours (THAJAGAA), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Destination management services
• Tourism marketing
• Accommodation booking
• Experience booking platform
• Guest card programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Romanshorn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Thurgau Tourism derives revenue from annual membership fees paid by ~500 member businesses (hotels, restaurants, leisure providers, cultural institutions, municipalities). Members receive listing on thurgau-bodensee.ch, inclusion in media/PR activities, preferred consideration for group inquiries at reduced commission rates, and voting rights at the General Assembly.
2. Booking & Experience Commissions: Revenue from commissions on bookings facilitated through thurgau-bodensee.ch for accommodations, experiences (Erlebnisshop), and vouchers. Reduced commission rates apply for member businesses.
3. Thurgau-Gutscheine Sales: Sale of gift vouchers redeemable at over 100 partner establishments. Vouchers can be purchased online and printed or sent digitally, generating revenue that circulates within the regional partner network.
4. Guest Cards (Bodensee Card Plus, Gästekarte Oskar): The Gästekarte Oskar provides free public transport via the Ostwind network and discounts at partner establishments from the first overnight stay. The Bodensee Card Plus grants free entry to attractions. Revenue indirectly flows through partner contributions and destination marketing fees.
5. myclimate 'Cause We Care' Contribution: A 1.2% contribution on bookings is automatically applied and matched by Thurgau Tourism, split between international myclimate climate protection projects and local sustainability initiatives (e.g., Around the Bodensee CleanUp). This is a voluntary tourist levy that supports the organization's sustainability commitments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thurgau Tourism operates the official destination management organization for the Thurgau-Bodensee region in Eastern Switzerland, marketing and facilitating visitor stays, experiences, dining, and events through the thurgau-bodensee.ch digital platform, three physical tourism offices, the Gästekarte Oskar and Bodensee Card Plus guest cards, the Erlebnisshop experience booking system, and Thurgau-Gutschein gift vouchers. It is membership-funded by approximately 500 regional hospitality, gastronomy, leisure, cultural, agricultural, and municipal partners, and curates themed routes such as the Bierstrasse (Beer Route), wine experiences, cycling and e-bike routes, and a calendar of signature events.

Product overview

Thurgau Tourism operates as a destination management organization for the Thurgau-Bodensee region in Eastern Switzerland. The offering consists of a unified tourism platform with several interconnected services: a core digital platform (thurgau-bodensee.ch) providing destination discovery tools including the Erlebnis-Finder (experience finder), Unterkunfts-Finder (accommodation finder), and Gastro-Finder (restaurant finder); guest card products (Gästekarte Oskar offering free public transport and Bodensee Card Plus providing free museum entry); an Erlebnisshop for booking experiences; Thurgau-Gutschein gift vouchers; themed routes like Bierstrasse; and the partner-facing Partnerplattform for member management. Additional services include sustainability programs (Swisstainable, myclimate Cause We Care), accessibility support (OK:GO), and a media portal for press relations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gästekarte Oskar: Guest card offering free travel on the Ostwind network and holiday experiences from one overnight stay onwards.
• Thurgau-Gutscheine
• Cause We Care
• Bodensee Card Plus

Products and services

• Gästekarte Oskar Guest card product issued to visitors from the first overnight stay, providing free public transport on the Ostwind regional network and free or discounted access to numerous holiday experiences and partner establishments across the Thurgau-Bodensee region.
• Bodensee Card Plus Cross-border experience card providing free entry to many attractions across the four-country Lake Constance region (Vierländerregion Bodensee), usable at partner attractions and cultural sites.
• Thurgau-Gutschein (Gift Vouchers) Digital and physical gift vouchers purchasable online via Shopify e-commerce and redeemable at over 100 partner businesses across the Thurgau-Bodensee region, providing a destination-wide cross-sell and loyalty mechanism.
• Erlebnisshop (Experience Booking Shop) Integrated booking platform on thurgau-bodensee.ch for purchasing curated experiences, tours, and activities across the Thurgau-Bodensee region, including cycling tours, boat cruises, SUP rentals, castle tours, wine experiences, and family adventures.
• Thurgauer Erlebnisprogramm Curated regional experience program offering themed routes and activities across the Thurgau-Bodensee region, including 'Typisch Thurgau' signature experiences, cycling routes, castle tours, wine experiences, and family adventures, bookable through the Erlebnisshop.
• Partnerplattform (B2B Partner Portal) B2B partner portal at partner.thurgau-bodensee.ch providing ~500 member businesses with listing management, webinar access, a knowledge database, downloads, project submission tools, event management, and member communications.
• Unterkunfts-Finder (Accommodation Search) Accommodation search and booking tool on thurgau-bodensee.ch allowing visitors to find and book hotels, holiday apartments, Bed & Breakfasts, camping, farm stays, and group accommodations, powered by the Holidu Smart Destination booking platform.
• Erlebnis-Finder (Experience Discovery) Experience discovery tool on thurgau-bodensee.ch categorizing activities into water, active, nature & culture, and family segments, surfacing curated experiences that connect into the Erlebnisshop booking flow.
• Medienportal (Media Portal) Press and media portal on thurgau-bodensee.ch providing journalists and media professionals with press releases, base press dossiers, a press contact (Miriam Fischer, Medienarbeit & PR), and access to press images for destination coverage.
• Bierstrasse (Beer Route) Themed regional route on thurgau-bodensee.ch connecting breweries and beer experiences across the Thurgau region, surfaced through the Erlebnis-Finder and bookable via the Erlebnisshop.
• Kurztrip Thurgau (48h/72h Trip Planner) Curated short-trip itinerary product on thurgau-bodensee.ch offering pre-built 48-hour and 72-hour weekend plans in the Thurgau region, bundling accommodations, dining, and activities for short-break visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Around the Bodensee CleanUp, supported by Thurgau Tourism's Cause We Care fund, has engaged ~10,000 participants and collected ~95,000 liters of litter since 2016.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration23 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG (SBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBS operates lake ferry services along the Swiss shore and to German destinations (April–October), with its office co-located at Thurgau Tourism's headquarters in Romanshorn. Thurgau Tourism promotes SBS cruises through the Erlebnisshop and includes them in itinerary planning. The partnership provides visitors with integrated lake access experiences.
• Schweizerische Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein AG (URh)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerURh operates the Untersee and Rhine ship route between Kreuzlingen/Konstanz and Schaffhausen — promoted as 'the most beautiful river journey in Europe.' Thurgau Tourism features URh cruises in experience packages and supports their seasonal promotion. URh is Swisstainable Level II certified.
• ThurbocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThurbo provides regional public transport services across eastern Switzerland, integrated with the Gästekarte Oskar guest card that offers free public transport on the Ostwind network from the first overnight stay.
• Tour de Suisse Rad AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTour de Suisse Rad AG is a cycling tour operator whose logo appears on the Thurgau Tourism partner page, indicating co-marketing around cycling and e-bike routes in the Thurgau-Bodensee region.
• Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThurgauer Kantonalbank is a regional banking partner whose logo appears on the thurgau-bodensee.ch website, suggesting sponsorship or co-marketing support.
• Mosterei Möhl AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMosterei Möhl (cider mill) is a regional food and beverage partner appearing on the partner page. Möhl products are part of the Thurgau culinary experience ecosystem.
• Gastro ThurgaucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGastro Thurgau represents the cantonal hospitality and restaurant association, acting as a key ecosystem partner for Thurgau Tourism's members in the dining sector.
• thurgaukultur.chcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional cultural portal is a strategic partner for promoting cultural experiences, museums, and events across Thurgau. Joint promotion of the museums landscape (Museumslandschaft Thurgau) and cultural events.
• myclimate Foundation (Cause We Care)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurgau Tourism partners with myclimate's 'Cause We Care' initiative, contributing 1.2% of booking values (matched by TGT) to international climate protection projects and local sustainability initiatives. This is a core element of the destination's sustainability strategy and Swisstainable Level II commitment.
• Around the Bodensee CleanUpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental initiative led by Noemi Solombrino, supported by Thurgau Tourism's Cause We Care fund. The initiative has organized ~400 CleanUp events with ~10,000 participants collecting ~95,000 liters of litter from Lake Constance shores since 2016. Thurgau Tourism staff participate in cleanup events at Seepark Romanshorn.
• Swisstainable (Swiss Tourism Sustainability Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurgau Tourism is a Swisstainable Level II ('engaged') member since 2024. The program, administered by the Swiss Tourism Association (Schweizer Tourismus-Verband), certifies tourism businesses across three sustainability levels. Thurgau Tourism promotes certified Swisstainable Betriebe on its platform.
• OK:GO InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurgau Tourism is a member of OK:GO, an initiative helping tourism providers publish accessibility information for guests with disabilities, older persons, and families with young children. The flat-to-gently-hilly Thurgau landscape is positioned as inherently accessible.
• Switzerland TourismcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThurgau Tourism is a member of Switzerland Tourism, gaining national and international marketing reach and alignment with Switzerland's broader tourism brand. The website displays the Switzerland Member badge.
• TSO AG (TourismusWeb)coreTechnology or IntegrationTSO AG provides and maintains the TourismusWeb CMS powering both thurgau-bodensee.ch and partner.thurgau-bodensee.ch. TSO AG also provides the annual report platform (report.thurgau-bodensee.ch) and built the digital visitor card system.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visit Zürich: Destination organization for Zürich and surrounding region. Comparable to Thurgau Tourism in serving Eastern Switzerland as a regional DMO with accommodation booking, experience curation, and event-led marketing aimed at short-break domestic and international travelers.
• Valais/Wallis Promotion: Cantonal tourism organization for Valais in southwest Switzerland. Comparable to Thurgau Tourism as another Swiss regional DMO with a strong experience portfolio (wine, gastronomy, hiking, cycling, cultural sites) and a member-driven marketing model targeting short-break and active tourism segments.
• Ticino Turismo: Cantonal destination management organization for Ticino in southern Switzerland. Directly comparable to Thurgau Tourism in structure (regional DMO with partner network, experience booking, themed routes, and event-driven marketing) although it serves a distinct Italian-speaking geography and climate.
• Luzern Tourismus AG: Public-private destination management organization for the Lucerne region in central Switzerland. Comparable to Thurgau Tourism as a Swiss regional DMO operating visitor information offices, accommodation and experience booking, and guest card programs, with a similar mix of lake-based activities and cultural tourism.
• Bodensee Tourismus GmbH: Four-country Lake Constance destination marketing organization covering the German, Austrian, and Swiss shores. Most direct comparable to Thurgau Tourism because both operate as regional DMOs over overlapping Lake Constance territory, coordinating visitor information, guest cards (compare TGT's Bodensee Card Plus), and experience booking across the same geography.
• Tourismus Engadin Scuol Samnaun Val Müstair AG: Regional Swiss destination organization for the Lower Engadine. Comparable to Thurgau Tourism in operating guest card programs (Engadin Scuol Samnaun Val Müstair), accommodation and experience booking, and a member-driven content/marketing model for a defined regional destination.
• Graubünden Ferien: Swiss cantonal destination marketing organization for Graubünden, structured as a member-based organization with similar mandate to promote accommodation, experiences, and events. Directly comparable to Thurgau Tourism as another Swiss regional DMO running curated experience programs, partner networks, and content-led destination marketing on its own regional domain.
• Interlaken Tourismus: Destination organization for the Interlaken holiday region in the Bernese Oberland. Comparable to Thurgau Tourism as a Swiss regional DMO whose experience offering (lake activities, hiking, scenic cruises, castles) overlaps closely with TGT's lake- and outdoor-led product mix, and which similarly targets short-break European leisure travelers.
• Bern Welcome: Destination marketing organization for the Bern Region (city and surrounding canton). Comparable to Thurgau Tourism as a Swiss regional DMO running accommodation search, experience booking, and city/regional marketing, with similar reliance on cultural, culinary, and active outdoor experiences to drive short-break demand.

Broad incumbents

• Switzerland Tourism (Schweiz Tourismus): National tourism marketing organization for Switzerland, of which TGT is itself a member. Comparable as the umbrella destination marketing layer above TGT, conducting international campaign work that smaller regional DMOs like Thurgau Tourism rely on for inbound demand generation and brand alignment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThurgauBodensee
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThurgauBodensee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thurgau Tourism