“Smart tourism destinations: the

meaning and pillars of their

intelligence”

Javier Blanco

1st EUREKATOURISM+ Brokerage Event

“The advancement of the tourism industries through technology and innovation”.

Palma de Mallorca, 13 and 14 November 2014”.

Overview

I.- The traces of our time

II.- Future scenarios

III.- “Smart” has also reached tourism destinations

IV.- Changes and innovative initiatives unfolding in cities

V.- Destination progress and competitiveness

VI.- Key aspects for smarter development of tourism

destinations

VII.- Conclusions: Predicting elements and the meaning of

smart destinations

I.- THE TRACES OF OUR TIME

Movimiento

Información

Interdependencia

Gobernanza

Entorno de incertidumbre y transición

Movement

Information

Interdependence

Environment of

uncertaintyand transitionFoto:AnnaDziubinska

II.-FUTURE SCENARIOS

1. For world governance

Design of appropriate systems of governance

Battle for information and big databases

Knowledge and innovation boost inclusive

and sustainable future growth

2. For “smart growth”

3. For future city models

High tech city

Digital city

Liveable city

Fortress city(“Living in the city”,

report 2014)

Foto:Rob Potvin

III.-“SMART” HAS ALSO

REACHED TOURISM

DESTINATIONS

“Smart tourism destinations”

A new term emerging for an

insufficiently defined reality

Intelligence is a capacity for:

learning and adapting,

understanding our society,

combining knowledge and interacting to

achieve objectives in a wide variety of

environments.

Foto: Aleks Dorohovich

“Smart”, an expression of digital change

The new green of our time

Sensors of our daily lives

IV.- CHANGES AND

INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES

UNFOLDING IN CITIES

Current projection of technology

Foto: Magdalena Reseler. FlickrFoto: pixabay.com

Explosion of wireless communication (7 billion devices

in 2013).

2.7 billion Internet users

700 million broadband subscriptions

Smartphones, essential tool for travellers

Changes to tourism brought about by

technology

Transformation in the tourism experience

New business models hand in hand with the

collaborative economy

Personalisation processes

Cities: platforms for innovation

Photo: Magdalena Reseler. Flickr

Connectivity (WI-FI capitals)

Innovative ecosystems on Big Data (“London Sensing”)

Advanced viewing of data (“We are data”, or “Living Singapore”)

Streets as public spaces and sustainable transport networks (Boston Complete´s Streets)

Airports as cross-technology networks (London City Airport, Stansted)

Big Data to improve general services (Open Data, Bigov Better City Indicators and La Mercé,

Barcelona)

3D Technology (Amsterdam 3D Print Canal House)

Foto:Michael Davis-Bourchat. Flickr

We are data : Open data opens immense possibilities to see the

pulse of the city and its connections.

Restaurants: On line information about hygiene-health

conditions of restaurants in New York City

V.- DESTINATION

PROGRESS AND

COMPETITIVENESS

Why nations progress?

Institutional quality (inclusive institutions,

practising innovation, encouraging investment in

knowledge, skills and creation of opportunities).

Why do cities progress?

Balance between soft and hard infrastructures

(“Competitiveness of Cities” ; World

Economic Forum , August 2014).

Foto: Anders Jildén

The place of technology in public policies

Takes on its meaning:

from comprehending its complexity and social

exchanges

responding to public interest and the needs and

motivations of users.

Foto:Jay Wennington

VI.- KEY ASPECTS FOR

SMARTER DEVELOPMENT OF

TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Governance

Innovation

SustainabilityKnowledge

Talent / Leadership

Key aspects for smarter development of

tourism destinations

1. Construct open and collaborative

governance

Challenge:

Ability to manage the community of interests at

the heart of each tourism destination.

Foto:David Marcu

2. Create systems capable of articulating

knowledge

What are companies/destinations doing to use

and manage information?

Foto:Patrik Goethe

3. Incorporate new talent

The best and most extensive professional profiles

working to develop global tourism.

Front-line professionals to DMOs

Foto: Alejandro Escamilla

4. Integrate sustainability

Criteria and indicators for measurement,

assessment and real inclusion in management

using technological solutions

Foto: Mateo Minelli

5. Innovate

Think outside the box, practice new ways of

making associations, changing paradigms,

with greater relevance to context

Foto:Billy Lam

VII.- CONCLUSION:

PREDICTING ELEMENTS AND

THE MEANING OF SMART

DESTINATIONS

Opportunities of Smart Tourism Destinations

Lead a process of change and adaptation to the

digital age and new tourists.

Change of mentality and break with inertia

Foto:Emanuele Pinna

Concept

Collaborative platforms for public-private agents and

talent connected by flows of information and supported by

suitable technology

What is the main challenge to overcome?

The construction of a balanced system of

infrastructures, relations and values

Foto:Steven Lewis

What will this whole process mean?

Making tourism possible and accessible to everyone

with the current scientific and technological advances,

improving leisure time in cities, tourism experiences

and citizen wellbeing.

“Making something happen and doing it well” (the “techné” of

Aristotle).

Foto: Fré Sonneveld

tourism@javierblanco.org

@JavierBlancoH