Economics Minister Boos-John: Future plans for the Thuringian Rhön!

Economics Minister Boos-John: Future plans for the Thuringian Rhön!

The Thuringian Rhön is currently the venue for the “Enabling Tour 2025”, which is led by Economics Minister Colette Boos-John (CDU). On July 18, 2025, the minister was on site together with state parliament member Martin Henkel, also from the CDU, to promote the regional development of the area and discuss new strategies. A really exciting appointment took place at the Dermbach Technology and Startup Promotion Center, where they exchanged ideas with the board of the Rhönforum and other regional players. A central topic of this meeting was the future of the Rhönforum and its role in regional development. Martin Henkel, the chairman of the Rhönforum, provided important ideas.

Through her career to date, Colette Boos-John has established herself as a driving force in the economy. She studied business administration at the Gießen-Friedberg University of Applied Sciences and took over the management of her family business in 1997. Wikipedia documents that she has also made a name for herself through numerous honorary positions and commitments in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Their experience and expertise are particularly important for supporting rural areas.

Focus on local mobility

Alternative forms of mobility are becoming increasingly important, particularly in rural areas, and are becoming increasingly necessary due to demographic change. According to information from the Thuringian state government, many regions are affected by weak local public transport (ÖPNV). Inside Thuringia has found that people with reduced mobility often rely on taxis or neighbors, which causes additional costs. These people with limited mobility often have low incomes or low pensions, which hinder their access to transportation options.

The minister takes these challenges seriously and emphasized in her discussions that new, flexible mobility offers are of great relevance, especially for the rural population. A study on citizen bus projects, which are intended to serve as supplementary offerings to public mobility, is also being developed. This study examines important aspects such as accessibility, electromobility and autonomous driving solutions in order to improve the mobility offer while taking everyone's interests into account.

Collaboration for the future

The framework conditions for the successful implementation of such projects are analyzed and helpful recommendations for action are developed. The results will be incorporated into a brochure that will serve as support for future initiatives. This shows that the state government, under the leadership of Colette Boos-John, is actively addressing the challenges in regional development.

Overall, it is clear that the “Enabling Tour 2025” is not just a political program, but also includes concrete measures to improve the situation in rural areas. Local exchange is essential and gives hope for positive development in the Thuringian Rhön.