9 European smart tourism destinations to watch and learn from
During these difficult times when public health is of the highest priority and traveling is difficult or impossible, most of us have come to realize just how much we appreciate visiting new destinations. It’s become such a big part of our lives, and now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, it turns out to be one of the things we miss most.
Typically, tourism is one of the major components of economic growth for communities worldwide, but the pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard. The industry has been forced to find new ways to come back from this setback stronger. Right now, more than ever, it is important for the tourism sector to think differently and embrace innovation in preparation for the inevitable influx of visitors.
Innovations and initiatives are on the rise in the area of ‘smart tourism’. But what is smart tourism exactly? According to the European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative, a smart tourism destination is:
“A destination facilitating access to tourism and hospitality products, services, spaces, and experiences through ICT-based tools. It is a healthy social and cultural environment, which can be found through a focus on the city’s social and human capital. It also implements innovative, intelligent solutions and fosters the development of entrepreneurial businesses and their interconnectedness.”
Founded in 2019, the European Capital of Smart Tourism is an initiative that aims to raise awareness about smart tourism tools, measures, and projects implemented in cities across four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalization, and cultural heritage and creativity. In 2019 and 2020 two European cities were named European Capital of Smart Tourism and four cities have been awarded a prize in one of the four above-mentioned categories.
Smart tourism plays a vital role in the development of smart cities, as initiatives to attract tourists can cause a significant increase in people and cars in even the smallest of towns. This, in turn, greatly affects the traffic in the location in question, with more and more people searching for parking spaces. The average tourist aims to park their vehicle in the city center or as close to major tourist attractions, such as beaches or ski resorts, as possible. The resulting search traffic not only increases congestion and traffic hazards but also influences the quality of life of residents and visitors alike. Smart parking solutions can remedy the situation and considerably enhance the experience that smart tourism provides.
There are 9 cities in Europe that have already been praised by the European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative for their smart approach to tourism. When the time comes, and we are able to travel again, perhaps visiting one of these 9 European smart tourism destinations should be high on your list:
Gothenburg, named European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020 and winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2020 in the category of Sustainability.
Gothenburg, according to the European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative, has implemented far-reaching measures, to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the city. The recently released Smart Map encourages citizen engagement by gathering all the places you can rent, exchange, borrow, share, give and get in Gothenburg. Min Stad is a 3D city model that can be used by developers, architects and planners to host public consultations, anticipate the impact of future development and make better-informed decisions. Gothenburg bases 60% of its district heating on waste/recycled heat. In Gothenburg, 90% of all buildings are heated using district heating, while the corresponding figure for the EU is 12%. The city was a pioneer in issuing green bonds and was one of the first places to set consumption-based emission targets. 92% of the city’s hotels and 100% of meeting facilities are now environmentally certified and events that take place in the city benefit from the “Event Impact Calculator”, a tool that has come as a result of local tech and science partnerships that forecasts potential environmental impacts and supports organizers to value events from an economic, social and environmental point of view. It is because of these initiatives that, for the past three years, Gothenburg has been named the world’s most sustainable destination, by the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
For more details, visit www.goteborgco.se/en/ and www.goteborg.com.
2. Málaga, named European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020 and winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2019 in the category of Accessibility.
Málaga has been awarded by the European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative, because - in their own words - “Málaga has been incorporating the concepts of sustainability, innovation, and culture into their strategic plans for many years. There is a constant exchange between visitors and the government’s tourism services so that Málaga can do more to meet the needs of visitors. In terms of sustainability, Málaga works in all spheres – it has installed public LED lighting, offers over 20 bike hire stations, and created bike lanes that now add up to over 40km. The city has installed smart watering systems for parks and gardens in order to save water and has introduced an Air Quality Sectoral Plan to reduce air pollution, monitor pollen levels, and improve noise quality. Málaga has also upgraded street cleaning equipment and has worked on better waste separation in the city center.” The city has a fully-adapted bus network, vast pedestrian spaces including the refurbished Alameda Principal, plus 50% of Málaga taxis have been upgraded. Digitalization forms an essential part of the tourism experience in Málaga too and the city has a high-profile digital sector. This includes the Polo Digital at the Tabacalera and the Andalusian Technological Park (PTA). Over the last 15 years, the city has transformed into the “City of Museums” with well over 30 museums to visit.
For more details, visit: www.malagaturismo.com/es/site/smarttourism
3. Breda, winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2020 in the category of Accessibility.
Examples of initiatives from Breda include the use of technology and ICT to improve the visiting experience in Breda and to measure those results. For example, animations are used to illuminate iconic buildings in the city, such as the Spanjaardsgat and the castle of Breda. In addition, sustainable LED lighting puts locations such as the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk and Willemstraat, the smartest street in Breda, in the spotlight. Various further developments are also planned for 2020. For example, Breda will focus on smart experience, maximum accessibility, and hospitality during the Vuelta a Holanda. There will be a special stand for people with a disability and route maps in Braille for the blind. The Vuelta will be the living lab for testing new digital technologies of flow, crowd management, and digital experiences.
4. Ljubljana, winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2020 in the category of Digitalisation ánd winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2019 in the category of Sustainability.
According to the European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative, Ljubljana’s proactive approach to sustainability has meant it has been able to exceed its own tourism quota for the period of 2014 – 2020. Over 90% of local residents agree that developing tourism leads to development for the city. As one of Europe’s green capitals, 20% of the city consists of protected natural areas, and new initiatives are helping to turn degraded areas into even more public space. There has also been a push to get more local produce into hotels and restaurants, supporting the environment while promoting Slovenian food, wine, and beer. The jury was particularly impressed by Ljubljana's various smart solutions including the official tourism website with its rich content and a series of apps - especially the Tap water app for locating water fountains all around the city.
5. Karlsruhe, winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2020 in the category of Cultural Heritage & Creativity.
Home to Germany’s oldest technical university and Europe’s largest IT cluster, Karlsruhe has long been a digital hub and innovation hotspot. Karlsruhe is working on the consolidation and digitalization of all offers in a unique “digital@KA” app to simplify visitors’ experiences with cultural programs, local transport, and citizen services. From the Karlsruhe NaturRADtour, which invites visitors to explore Germany’s most bicycle-friendly city, to the “Kombilösung” project to improve accessibility, the City of Karlsruhe has implemented several projects and innovative mobility technologies to cultivate an accessible and sustainably managed city for locals and travelers alike.
6. Helsinki, named European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2019.
The city’s smart public transport system enjoyed a rise in user satisfaction over the last two years and Helsinki isn’t standing still. An ‘Uber boat’ system is under consideration and driverless buses are being trialed on open streets. Helsinki ranked second at the Accessible City Awards in 2015. And, if you do need any extra help, multilingual ‘Helsinki Helpers’ are stationed at main attractions to offer assistance.
Visitors will see first-hand some of the 143 measures in place to help Helsinki become carbon neutral by 2035. The Helsinki Road Map prevents overcrowding and supports local business as it guides tourists around the city, while 75% of hotel rooms are certified environmentally friendly. Helsinki is also increasing the share of cycling, walking, and electric cars and trains.
Powered by its open approach to public data – available free for all since 2009 – Helsinki has become a hotbed of software innovation. One of the major successes is the MyHelsinki.fi website, an ad-free service platform featuring recommendations from the people who know the city best – the locals. Read more about it here: Helsinki’s Preliminary Programme of Activities as 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism.
For more details, visit myhelsinki.fi.
7. Lyon, named European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2019.
Lyon has won several accolades for accessibility — including the 2018 Access City Award — having put its plan at the center of urban life. Visitors with disabilities and reduced mobility can move around the city with complete autonomy, taking advantage of a completely adapted transport network and smart signage. Lyon’s museums offer adapted tours — those with hearing impairments are allowed to touch works of art — and many restaurants provide speaking menus.
This year, 40,000 visitors to the city experienced the benefits of the Lyon City Card, which provides users with free public transport, entrance to 23 museums and other attractions, discounts, and more. In the future, visitors will be able to take advantage of the ONLYLYON Experience, receiving live geo-located tourist information direct to their smartphones to reduce congestion.
Read here: Lyon’s Preliminary Programme of Activities as 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism
For more details, visit ONLYLYON.com.
8. Copenhagen, winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2019 in the category of Digitalisation.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism Initiative chose Copenhagen because of the following reasons: On arrival in the city, the innovative Copenhagen Visitor Service is the first point of call, where tourists can grasp everything the city has to offer, through moving posters, robotics, or even by putting on a pair of VR goggles and experiencing the city’s best attractions through the eyes of a couple, locals, a family or seniors. Once tourists leave the visitor service they can make use of the city’s app, which guides users between attractions. Within the app, a tracking module that asks users for consent before activation gathers data so that the authorities can better understand movement patterns both around the city and at attractions on the outskirts. The data that is collected is helping to continually improve services.
9. Linz, winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism Award 2019 in the category of Cultural Heritage & Creativity.
Among other reasons, Linz was selected by the Initiative, because it boasts 43 galleries and exhibition rooms and 13 cultural centers, the most prestigious of which are located on the Kulturmeile (culture mile), a popular route for tourists that traces the bending Donau river. Whilst these spaces boast world-class collections, art in Linz isn’t just confined to galleries. Innovative formats such as Höhenrausch (loosely translated as “high jinks”), an art exhibition on the rooftops, are typical of the city’s creative approach. In addition to the art on display, Höhenrausch visitors will also be able to glimpse signs of Linz’s impressive industrial heritage, in the form of the factory chimneys that pierce the city’s skyline. Linzers are conscious of incorporating this aspect of history into the city’s cultural repertoire: the Voestalpine Stahlwelt museum pays homage to the steel industry that has been the backbone of Linz’s economy for almost a century; the Tabakfabrik is now a hub for the creative industry and the Mural Harbour is an industrial port turned blank canvas for graffiti artists from around the world.
These are the 9 European smart destinations to watch and learn from as smart tourism will become increasingly important over the next few years. Will your city be next?