The 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism, Gothenburg and Málaga, will be taking part in this year’s ITB in Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show.
Between 4 – 8 March 2020, the two cities will be showcasing their smart tourism initiatives and best practices at the European Capital of Smart Tourism stand supported by the EU.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative, which recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four award categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitisation, as well as cultural heritage and creativity.
The initiative promotes the development of smart tourism in European cities, aims to strengthen destinations and facilitates the exchange of best practices. The initiative is managed by the European Commission, the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, and results from a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament.
Why are these cities know for their smart tourism?
Gothenburg works together with a wide variety of stakeholders and sectors to implement an integrated approach to smart tourism. The city stands out for its digital offering that is helping to improve experiences for both citizens and tourists. This includes future-oriented solutions for traffic and transport, open data, as well as exemplary sustainability measures.
Málaga has transformed from a sun-and-sea tourism hotspot into an innovative tourism destination, successfully incorporating the concepts of sustainability, accessibility, innovation and culture into its smart tourism strategies and actions. The coastal city has a strong focus on using novel technologies to improve the visitor experience and boost the innovative capacity of local businesses.
A selection of the most innovative projects, ideas and initiatives, submitted by cities competing for the 2019 and 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, can be found in the Compendium of Best Practices, the go-to guide to smart tourism in the EU.
