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What is smart tourism and why is it so BIG?

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Smart tourism is big business in the travel and tourism industry, but why is it so big and what does smart tourism actually do? Read on to learn more…

What is smart tourism?

A definition of smart tourism, types of smart tourism, smart tourism accessibility options, smart tourism sustainability initiatives, smart tourism information sharing, smart tourism research and management tools, smart tourist experiences, smart tourism: conclusion.

Smart tourism is defined according to the technological capabilities of a particular destination, attraction or the tourist themselves. Many destinations are now modernising to include increased use of smart technology in their operations ranging from payment methods to interactive activities.

The ultimate aim of smart tourism is to improve the efficiency of resource management, maximise competitiveness and to enhance sustainability through the use of technological innovations and practices. It is often associated with e-tourism as this will involve the use of technology.

One destination that is leading the way with their smart tourism industry is China, whereby tourists can use their phones to do simple tasks such as pay for taxis, order meals, check queue times and read information on the destination or attraction that they are visiting through a supplied QR code.

‘Smart’ has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years.

In essence, for something to be ‘smart’ it needs to have complex technological capabilities in order to allow for the exploitation of a range of information that is then used to inform product development and operation. Whilst the average tourist may not be aware of what goes on behind the scenes, there is likely a lot of work that goes on to ensure maximum productivity and competitiveness.

Whilst the concept of ‘smart’ isn’t directly correlated with technology, in today’s world they are inevitably intertwined. In order to be ‘smart’, destinations, attractions and other tourism industry stakeholders will utilise a variety of technological innovations and practices (these are outlined shortly). As such, the use of technology is at the heart of the concept of smart tourism.

There hasn’t been a great deal of research into smart tourism to date. Most studies in the area focus instead on ‘smart cities’ or ‘smart destinations’.

Gretzel et al (2015) advocate that the notion of smart tourism is, in fact, a complex one, and that succinctly defining the term smart tourism is a difficult endeavour.

The The European Capital of Smart Tourism , define a smart destination as:

‘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.’

To further elaborate, Buhalis and Amaranggana explain that:

‘Smart Tourism Destinations take advantage of: (1) Technology embedded environments; (2) Responsive processes at micro and macro levels (3) End-user devices in multiple touch-points; and (4) Engaged stakeholders that use the platform dynamically as a neural system.’

Taking into account the available literature at the time of writing, I have provided my own definition of smart tourism below.

‘Smart tourism is the act of tourism agents utilising innovative technologies and practices to enhance resource management and sustainability, whilst increasing the businesses overall competitiveness’.

resource management, maximise competitiveness and to enhance sustainability through the use of technological innovations and practices.

At the heart of smart tourism is technology, that much is clear. But the key is how this technology is used to make the tourism agent (destination management organisation , tourist attraction, hotel, restaurant etc) operate more effectively.

Below you will find five of the most common methods of implementing smart tourism.

Ways to implement smart tourism

Smart tourism can be implemented in any number of different ways, providing it achieves the outcomes of enhanced resource management, sustainability and competitiveness. There are five main ways to do this, although this list is, of course, not exhaustive. These five methods include; smart accessibility options, smart sustainability initiatives, smart information sharing, smart research and management tools and smart tourist experiences.

In order to a tourism agent to identify as smart tourism initiative, they must demonstrate that they are accessible to all, both in a physical and a digital sense. This means that everyone has access to the tourism provider, regardless of age, gender, religion, race, sexuality or disability.

A smart tourism attraction or destination should have a well development transport infrastructure that enables all types of people to travel (i.e. there is wheelchair access and lifts for parents with prams etc). This should also include reasonably priced transport options, which will usually be public transport.

At the attraction or destination itself, there should be opportunities for everybody to access all areas. This may include lifts and ramps for disabled people.

Smart tourism accessibility also includes language communications. This is something that I have personally grappled with a lot since moving to China . Many Chinese attractions do not provide information for non-Chinese speaking tourists. Others provide translation for only some selected information (this works both ways too- I have translated museum scripts to find that the English version provides comprehensive details, but the Chinese version omits certain facts or remarks).

There are some great examples of smart tourism accessibility implemented around the world. I personally like the wheelchair accessibility that is promoted in Malaga and the personal city helpers scheme in Helsinki .

Sustainable tourism is at the forefront of many tourism agent’s plans and operations nowadays, and for good reason. As I explained in my post ‘ Sustainable tourism explained ‘, such practices not only help to provide a good image for the organisation, but also help to combat the negative social , environmental and economic impacts of tourism.

An important arm of smart tourism is the sustainability sector. Tourism agents which operate successful smart tourism initiatives should have a considerable focus on sustainability; reducing their carbon footprint, adopting environmentally friendly approaches and taking into account the host communities and their needs.

There are many ways that organisations can use mart technology to improve their sustainability practices.

Helsinki demonstrated their commitment to sustainable tourism during their Sustainable Flow Festival and Estonia have their Green Key initiative. At a more local level, there are many eco hotels and resorts around the world as well as socially beneficial tourism forms such as volunteer tourism .

Of course, having sustainable practices alone doesn’t qualify a tourism agent as a smart tourism provider. These practices need to be underpinned by technologies, such as the use of solar panel lighting for example, that enable said practices to be achieved.

One of the key advancements enabling smart tourism to occur in recent years is the growth of information sharing platforms. The digitalisation of modern day society has opened up a wealth of opportunities for tourism providers to share information to a wide range of tourist types .

The growth of social media, QR codes and mini-programmes has provided tourism agents with opportunities that were not previously available.

Tourism organisations can now use these new opportunities to provide information prior, during and after the tourists’ visit. They can also utilise more efficient promotional methods and marketing on these online platforms.

Complex algorithms, cookies and other digital monitoring methods can help organisations to be more and more in tune with their consumers or potential consumers. This allows them to develop more suitable and targeted products.

Organisations have been capitalising on the new possibilities of smart tourism information sharing by adopting electronic means of sharing information, for example in a museum or exhibit, encouraging the use of particular social media hashtags and geotagging and developing custom made apps.

Whilst many organisations around the world have turned to smart tourism information sharing practices, China is leading the way in this domain. Chinese tourism attractions are abundant with QR codes and their social media sharing platform, WeChat, enables tourism providers to develop their own mini-programmes- kind of like apps, but less extensive and without the need to download anything.

Nowadays there are many methods of obtaining and monitoring information. Organisations now have a wealth of data at their fingertips.

Adopting smart tourism research and management tools, such as designing a custom-made tourism flow monitor or developing a tailor-made CRM programme, can dramatically improve business outcomes.

A good example of a destination that has implemented smart tourism research and management tools in this way is Malaga, where they have introduced a parking app to help travellers park more effectively and reduce congestion.

Perhaps the most obvious type of smart tourism (for the tourist at least), is the smart tourist experience.

Destinations, attractions and other tourism providers are now adopting innovative technological approaches to develop and enhance the tourism experience that they offer. This ranges from augmented reality applications to gaming and virtual reality. This article on the top 20 augmented reality travel apps show a few examples of how this works in practice.

In the UK, The Hub Hotel from Premier Inn has made augmented reality compatible with the wall maps in the hotel rooms. When these maps are viewed through a smart device the wall maps present additional information about some of the local places of interest.

On my recent trip to Qiandao Lake in China, I saw a virtual reality hot air ballon. Here tourists would wear a mask which would make them feel like they would be lifted to a height inside the hot air ballon, where they could appreciate the lake view around them. In reality, their feet would never leave the ground!

Is smart tourism the future of tourism? I would say so, yes. There are some brilliant examples of smart tourism initiatives around the world and countries like China are leading the way. Despite the evident growth in smart tourism, however, there is a dearth of information on the subject, most notably in the academic field.

Personally, I am excited to see the developments in the tourism industry in this regard over the coming years! What do you think?

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Insights How Smart Tourism Experiences are Served by Technology

Today’s visitor journey is fragmented. Customer data can help brands unlock seamless, digitally-enabled guest experiences within connected smart destinations.

The concept of “smart destinations” or “smart tourism” has been advancing the guest experience for years, but there’s one piece of the puzzle that the travel and hospitality industry has yet to unlock: the integration of customer data for proactive insights that enable personalization.

Smart tourism defines travel experiences that are digitally enabled and connected to technology, allowing guests to efficiently navigate through foreign cities, book activities online and utilize their mobile devices to tackle their entire itinerary.

But smart tourism is entering a new era of seamless travel, served not only by technology, but also by customer data.  

“The future of smart tourism is travel experiences that are proactive,” says Mukundhan Sundaram, senior director of technology at Publicis Sapient. “You’re removing all points of friction and frustration by putting data in the hands of the customer to effectively guide their journey.”

Learn how the next era of smart tourism can build guest loyalty and how customer data will transform the end-to-end guest experience.

What smart tourism is—and what it isn’t

Smart destinations are often enabled by specific technology upgrades, like mobile apps or online booking platforms, but that’s not all it is. Smart tourism is tourism that transforms the end-to-end guest experience through interconnected physical and digital technology.

“Technology upgrades implemented in a vacuum aren’t truly ‘smart,’ because they’re not grounded in the end-to-end guest experience,” says Sundaram, travel and hospitality industry expert.

Smart tourism is not just luxury travel; it applies to mass-market or affordable tourism experiences as well. Smart tourism creates seamless and luxurious experiences enabled by technology, increasing convenience and accessibility for travelers.

The next era of smart tourism, sometimes referred to as “cognitive tourism,” goes a step further by utilizing first-party customer data to proactively recommend the next step of the guest experience, whether that’s a reminder to get to the airport, an invitation for a vacation activity or a coupon for a recommended restaurant. This means no more written itineraries that need to be carried around and the ability to plan a dream vacation at the click of a button, taking much of the thinking out of the process.

Why guests crave smart destinations now more than ever

Post-COVID-19, travelers expect and rely on technology to power travel experiences across every touchpoint of their journey. Understaffed travel and hospitality brands need to use technology to bridge the gap at formerly in-person touchpoints that are becoming overwhelmed with “revenge tourism.”

But the need for smart tourism isn’t just because of a lack of staff. As travel prices continue to rise and loyalty falls, guests will revisit brands that personalize products and messaging. Almost one-third of travelers are more likely to stay in hotels that offer contactless checkout and/or personalized digital offers, according to 2022 research. Digitizing the travel experience allows brands to further tailor marketing and recommendations to customers based on their data.

Smart tourism also enables more sustainable, regenerative travel experiences that appeal to younger travelers. Roughly two-thirds of Millennials and Gen Z say that sustainability is important to them when they travel, according to the same study.

How can smart tourism transform the end-to-end travel experience?

From booking to hotel check-in and travel activities, brands can allow customers to share first-party data through mobile devices for more personalized and efficient travel experiences.

Here’s how brands can integrate customer data across each step of the travel experience:

Booking the vacation  

• Read blogs, forums and articles to research vacation options.
• Manually enter log-in information on several different websites to receive points and discounts on bookings.
• Fill out lengthy forms with contact information for each booking.
• Go to the brand website to enter a virtual metaverse experience to explore and learn about the destination.
• Scan a QR code from the website browser to give consent for the brand to automatically access all required booking credentials stored within a [decentralized digital identity], from payment information to contact information.
•  Receive personalized recommendations for travel based on metaverse activity and decentralized digital identity.

Checking in at the airport for a flight

• Enter the airport well in advance of the flight to stand in a long line to check bags.
• Check into flight via the website, and have to enter the flight number and remember to check in well in advance of the flight.
• Enter the long TSA line for security, and have to show your passport/ID and boarding pass.
• Airline app sends a notification to check in for your flight, and boarding information is automatically added to the app.
• App recommends what time to get to the airport based on traffic flow and locations and also shows recommendations for food around the gate area, allowing passengers to place orders for products or food in advance with stored payment methods.
• App allows passengers to check bags through a contactless method and use their phone to get through security and boarding with no queues.

Checking into a hotel for vacation

• Arrive at the front desk to wait in a long line.
• Front desk staff member has to check multiple databases to locate guest check-in information as the guest waits with their family and luggage.
• Guest has to juggle their ID and credit card and sign paper check-in forms and receives an envelope with room keys.
• Receive an email on the day of check-in with instructions on how to check in.
• Geo-sensing technology recognizes when you have reached the hotel property and sends a ping with the room information and room key.
• App guides visitors to their rooms and provides recommendations for initial food, activities and added amenities based on demographic information and travel history.

Accomplishing the travel itinerary

• Research and book the best activities near the hotel far in advance of the trip.
• Separately research and book the most convenient transportation and food options to accompany the activity.
• Check into each activity using a different ticket or pass, search deep in email inbox or print out the pass in advance.
• Receive a realistic recommended travel itinerary for the trip based on geo-location, preferences, demographics and other traveler information.
• In case of unanticipated events, the activities and overall itinerary are dynamic, with the ability to transition to new reservation times or plans depending on the situation.
• Receive proactive activity reminders for timing, transportation and necessary preparation.

In order to bring smart and even cognitive tourism experiences to life, travel brands need to connect physical and digital technology, as well as customer data, across the entire travel ecosystem. This includes city governments, payment processors, airports, airlines, hotels and more.

How Publicis Sapient creates smart destinations

Through partnerships with key industry players, Publicis Sapient helps global travel companies utilize artificial intelligence, big data, information of things, augmented and virtual reality and decentralized identity solutions to create connected travel ecosystems.

“Publicis Sapient is a global leader in smart destination solutions across geographies and sectors,” says Sundaram, travel and hospitality industry expert. “Our approach to smart tourism is customer-centric and involves a variety of stakeholders in order to be truly seamless.”

Approaching smart and cognitive tourism as an entire ecosystem rather than a singular touchpoint or brand in isolation allows hotels, airlines and cities to create frictionless and delightful travel experiences. At the same time, it creates experiences that are scalable over time and able to onboard and integrate new partners or hybrid legacy architecture.

Publicis Sapient helps brands like Miral to store every piece of information needed for travel in one place, digitally.

Contact Publicis Sapient to design and deliver a customer-centric smart tourism experience below.

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Smart Tourism: The Future of the Sector is Technological

What is smart tourism, smart cities and tourism, artificial intelligence and tourism, smart tourism and 5g, examples of smart tourism, smart tourism applications.

Smart cities are booming and are positioned as the perfect option for future processes of massive urbanization and sustainable models that companies and government agencies are currently pursuing.

This new paradigm offers the tourism sector a wide range of business opportunities and new ways of creating value to its offer. We tell you what it consists of, what the role of technology will be, and its future forecasts.

Smart tourism is defined as the dynamic connection of human experiences with smart technologies. It is closely linked to the development of Smart Cities and goes hand in hand with improvements in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT , Big Data, or 5G.

The goal of smart tourism is to improve the efficiency of resource management, maximize competitiveness and enhance sustainability through the use of innovative technologies. Therefore, more and more destinations are joining this modernization of their operations, from payment methods to various interactive activities.

The Smart Cities boom is impacting many industries, and one of them is tourism, which is increasingly moving towards a smart destination model.

As I said above, the development of smart tourism goes hand in hand with the growth of Smart Cities. These cities aim to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, in addition to creating more sustainable places. Therefore, smart tourism also follows these initiatives through richer and more environmentally friendly experiences.

Due to the importance of tourism as a strategic economic activity in many countries, this new way of traveling through cities is emerging. Some key points for the consolidation of smart tourism in a smart city are:

• State-of-the-art infrastructure guarantees sustainable development and promotes equitable accessibility.
• Access to free wifi in the street and public places.
• Electric mobility as an alternative to traditional transport.
• Promotion of more sustainable tourism.
• Real-time information such as traffic flow or incidents in public transport.
• Cultural and interactive activities.

Artificial Intelligence has numerous applications in the tourism sector, both from the consumer and business perspective. In the first case, it helps users find the most relevant information more quickly, gives them greater mobility, improves their decision-making and provides them with a better tourism experience.

For entrepreneurs, AI helps to manage resources, especially in promotion and productivity, and also to create a more sustainable model. Some of the most common examples are:

• Recommendation systems and personalization techniques: AI makes available to users the alternatives that suit them best, with personalized suggestions for each case and reducing the infinite number of options that do not always fit. Thanks to the information made available to companies, they can build precise profiles and tailor their experiences to each case.
• Conversational systems such as chatbots and voice assistants: These systems employ technologies such as NLP and speech recognition and are very useful because users can access them at any time through a closer experience that mimics the human one. In addition, with the use of chatbots, company workers no longer have to waste time on these types of tasks and can dedicate themselves to other more important ones.
• Forecasting tools: using historical and contextual data, future estimates are made to make better decisions. In the tourism sector, it is used to understand the tourist demand of each period and place, in order to develop marketing strategies, financial management, and allocation of human resources, detect scams or support the management of facilities.
• Translation applications: one of the bases of tourism is contact with different cultures and languages. However, it is also one of the biggest barriers for tourists when choosing a destination and avoiding sources of discomfort. Machine translation makes it easier for users to navigate each destination, allowing them to explore and participate in all kinds of activities.

Thanks to the development of 5G networks, new applications based on faster communication between devices will emerge.

When applied to tourism, we are referring to solutions that can be used by travel companies or cities to attract visitors through a more attractive experience.

Changes in this sector will focus on greater personalization of services, better access to information and content, quality entertainment, and optimized operations.

On the other hand, a fast internet connection can be a key factor in whether or not a guest returns to accommodation, especially when it is a business trip. 5G solves these problems, in addition to contributing to the implementation of smart features such as lights and thermostats that are controlled from a mobile device.

It is also a fundamental technology for the proper functioning of other technologies such as augmented reality. Many museums have already included experiences with tablets or glasses that gamify the traditional experience or live tours.

In fact, it will be a fundamental factor in airports, as this technology will be very present in passenger management or aircraft maintenance. Even solutions in which artificial intelligence plays a leading role, such as assisted vision, will also enter the market.

There are more and more examples of smart tourism destinations that we can find anywhere in the world. In fact, initiatives such as the European Capital of Smart Tourism have emerged, which aims to raise awareness of smart tourism tools, measures and projects implemented in cities in four categories: sustainability, digitization and cultural heritage, accessibility, and creativity.

We have compiled some of the most striking cases, but there are many more:

• El Hierro , in Spain, has become the first smart island in the world to achieve energy self-sufficiency, in addition to reducing its pollution levels thanks to the generation of electricity from garbage, or the replacement of brick with volcanic stone in the construction sector.
• Tequila , in the Mexican state of Jalisco, offers free wifi in its historic center, has an app containing information on products and services in the area, and has a data system that informs travelers in real time about traffic and commercial activities.
• The Swedish city of Gothenburg has implemented measures to ensure the well-being of future generations. It has published a smart map that encourages citizen participation to exchange, share or rent in the city. It also has a 3D model to conduct public consultations, anticipate the impact of future development and make improved decisions. On the other hand, 60% of its district heating is based on waste or recycled heat, making it one of the most sustainable European capitals.
• Malaga is the Spanish city that stands out most in terms of accessibility. It has installed LED street lighting and has created numerous kilometers of bicycle lanes, along with several rental stations. It has also installed smart irrigation systems in parks and gardens to save water and has implemented a plan to reduce air pollution, control pollen levels, and reduce noise.
• Ljubljana , the capital of Slovenia, has placed special emphasis on sustainability, and 20% of its territory is made up of protected natural areas, with a focus on converting degraded sites into public spaces. It has also promoted the purchase of local products in hotels and restaurants, in addition to creating a tourism website with a wide variety of content and applications focused on responsible tourism.
• Helsinki , the capital of Finland, has designed an intelligent public transport system that has received high praise. An “Uber boat” system is now being considered and driverless buses are being tested. In addition, multilingual workers can be found stationed at the city’s main attractions, offering assistance to visitors. It has also put a focus on electric transport and aims to become carbon neutral by 2035.
• Copenhagen , the Danish capital, has made great strides in digitalization. It has launched a visitor service, where tourists can see everything the city has to offer through moving billboards, robotics or virtual reality.
• Singapore is another example of digitalization, as it has implemented solutions that encourage the development of innovative communities. There, tourists have apps that inform them about crime rates in each specific area and receive notifications about missing persons and emergency institutions or information based on their geopositioning.

Smart tourism plays a crucial role in the development of smart cities, as its initiatives to attract tourists can cause a significant increase in people and vehicles. This affects traffic, in its congestion or in the difficulty of finding parking. This is why tourism and cities must work hand in hand to remedy these problems and provide a better experience for tourists and residents.

Dubai is another city that wanted to create an improved model for its inhabitants and offer a unique experience to its visitors. Therefore, it commissioned us to develop a project aimed at developing a totally innovative digital experience for the city.

We created a tool with which to manage high-resolution panoramic photos and videos, providing an automated processing and uploading system, in order to be available for viewing on a web application. You can discover all the details of Dubai 360 here.

On the other hand, with a special focus on sustainability, we created a solution for Trasmediterránea that reinforces passenger security, guarantees identity control, and increases the company’s environmental commitment by eliminating the need to print more than 5 million tickets per year.

We are specialists in creating innovative developments that transform the tourism sector towards a digitalized and interactive model. If you want to know how do not hesitate to contact us!

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What is Smart Tourism (And Why Does it Matter)?

The concept of Smart Tourism is defined by the European Union as a destination facilitating access to tourism and hospitality products, services, spaces and experiences through ICT-based (Information and communications technology) tools. By investing and developing these resources a city’s intelligence is strengthened and visitor engagement enhanced. This has implications on businesses and individuals alike who benefit from a more efficient infrastructure and service provision.

But why should you care about Smart Tourism?

In recent times the Tourism sector has been hit the hardest out of any other industry worldwide with the advancements of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smart Tourist destinations will now be the focal point for city regeneration and to soften the blow of seasonal tourist destinations. Smart Tourism facilitates this by creating an environment in which a holiday-maker can prosper and has been shown to trigger positive user experiences in visitors. 1.8 billion people are expected to be travelling the world by 2030 according to UN News highlighting the importance of placemaking and putting your city on the map for potential visitors.

Hello Lamp Post have been able to show tangible cause and effect on overall visitor experience through their implementation of a feedback loop at the Sydney Harbour Trust . This two way communication system allowed the governing body to understand the needs and wants of the tourists visiting and implement the necessary resources to accommodate these needs. It also provided a means for Sydney Harbour Trust to understand the vision of its constituents for the future of the area. While doing so they were able to connect the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to a previously inaccessible demographic.

Terms to Know

The notion of smart Tourism comes as a result of the European Union’s Smart Tourism Directive, which looks to “promote smart tourism in the EU, network and strengthen destinations, and facilitate the exchange of best practices”. Before taking a deep dive into smart tourism we must first assess tourism as a concept. Tourism is commonly broken down to five core elements known as the Five A’s of tourism (Accessibility, Accommodation, Amenities, Attractions and Activities).

By interpreting the 5 A’s of tourism into the context of smart tourism we can see clearly the potential for citizen and participatory technology, to further enhance the overall tourist experience in a region.

How can smart tourism help you?

Analysing smart tourism.

You’re probably thinking to yourself “How can you judge a city’s intelligence?”. The assessment criteria is broken into four main areas on which the smart tourism solution is judged.

Accessibility

Sustainability, digitalisation.

• Have the correct measures been implemented to positively impact local business and local communities, tangible and, where possible, measurable impacts of the implementations? On the Maritime Mile in Belfast Hello Lamp Post implemented a solution to help increase footfall, visitor dwell times and obtain citizen feedback. The project was awarded ‘Best Use of Digital Technology to Improve the Visitor Experience’ at the 2019 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards.
• Being a digital tourism city means offering innovative tourism and hospitality information, products, services, spaces and experiences adapted to the needs of the consumers through ICT-based solutions and digital tools.
• The city must be shown to be providing digital information about the destination, its attractions and tourism offers.
• Is your information on public transport, attractions and accommodation digitally accessible ? An environment should be created in which businesses have a digital-friendly support network to develop in.
• Are you supporting tourism businesses in their development and making use of digital skills and tools? Hello Lamp Post’s deployment in Bristol showcases the perfect example of leveraging digital skills and tools to enhance citizen engagement, see for yourself.
• Do you use digital solutions for enhancing innovative tourism offers ?

Creative and Cultural Heritage

• Is your city making resourceful use of its cultural heritage and creative industries to enrich tourism experience and quality of life ?
• What actions are you implementing to boost the recognition of your city as a smart tourism destination and to incorporate the tangible and intangible heritage of your art, history and culture in its centre and surroundings, in your enhanced tourism offer? The Arts Centre in Mesa Arizona was home to a Hello Lamp Post project directly aimed at promoting creative opportunities around the local area. Hello Mesa showcased how Hello Lamp Post’s technology can be used to make informed decisions on how local heritage should be showcased.
• How do you use cultural heritage and creativity to attract tourists, as well as exploit synergies between tourism and cultural and creative industries? Hello Lamp Post was able to aid this process during the “Big Bugs Tour” in INTU in the U.K by adding a playful experiential layer to the tour.

If you think your city could be in with a chance apply here .

Your Next Smart Tourism Destination

Let’s look at some examples of great smart tourism destinations:

Malaysia – Smart Tourism Malaysia – “Advances in digital technology are impacting how people travel, demanding tourism-related businesses to transform the way they operate” – said Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister for Tourism who has headed the Smart Tourism 4.0 initiative in Malaysia which has received outstanding praise from a global audience. The project’s main aim was to overcome urban challenges but at a local level as is shown on the smart city Malaysia website . The 92 indicators used in the project’s formation have performed above and beyond their initial intentions and have been regarded as a resounding success.

Gothenburg – Gothenburg is a small town in Sweden that has for the last four years been recognised as the European Capital of Smart Tourism. The town of 533,00 has received continuous investment in smart city technology over the last number of years, allowing it to grow from smart to smarter. These investments were mainly centred around sustainability and improving the lives of both the citizens and visitors in the town. Gothenburg is currently developing a strategy to become the first region in the world with fully zero-emission transport solutions , find out more at Smart City Sweden .

Malaga – The €31 million SmartCity Malaga project looked to implement a renewable energy solution for the people in the Spanish municipality, made up of half a million citizens. This solution took the form of LED lighting to save energy, installing more than 35 km of cycle paths and an app that allows people who are visually impaired to get tickets, interpret information and request assistance. The overall goal of this project was to strengthen Spain’s position as a global tourist destination which they have done to great avail.

Applying A Human-centric Approach to Smart Tourism

This is where we come in. Hello Lamp Post have shown their ability in the past to enable smart tourism destinations, to delve into the thoughts and ideas of their visitors through their innovative AI conversational tool. But don’t take our word for it, listen to what our client at the Sydney Harbour Trust had to say:

“This innovative and fun technology has provided another avenue for the Harbour Trust to connect with our community and visitors. It provides a simple and engaging way for visitors to discover more about Harbour Trust sites and also allows us to gain important insights into the visitor experience and obtain broad community feedback on Harbour Trust projects.” – Kathryn Roberts, Director of Marketing and Visitor Experience at the Harbour Trust

Long gone are the days of traditional city design. Humans are now the focal point for local planners and tourist engagement boards alike. Data has now become a more valuable asset than water and a responsibility is now on governing bodies to ensure resources are being positioned effectively so as to maximise benefit for residents and visitors alike. We here at Hello Lamp Post believe we can improve and enhance this process. Contact us using our contact form here . Back

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Travel Tech Revolution: 3 Experts Share Their Insights on How Tech Shapes Journeys

W e've gone from paper maps and written itineraries to instant technology at our fingertips in less than a decade. But is the tech revolution ruining our travel experiences?

It's true that more people are glued to their phones than ever, but is the convenience worth it? And are we safer with technology while traveling the world?

In this post, three tech experts share their insights into how technology shapes our journeys and what the future of travel might hold.

Personalized Travel Recommendations

The COVID-19 pandemic left the travel industry on its knees, and it underwent a serious transformation to regain its customer base.

Now, people want personalized travel recommendations, unique experiences, and effortless travel planning – all from the comfort of their homes.

Technology is making that possible with remote check-ins, travel guide apps, and 24-hour chatbots to engage travelers anywhere in the world.

These tools are widely used in various industries, from clothing fitting rooms to home interiors. But they are now beginning to make an appearance in the travel industry.

Museums, in particular, have opened their doors to online exhibitions, allowing you to visit them without ever leaving home. In the future, the same tech could allow you to visit the wonders of the world without being there in person, making "travel" more accessible.

But is VR a good replacement for the real thing? And will people even adopt the technology?

"In the gaming world, VR is already huge. The technology gives players immersive experiences, and about one in ten gamers already own a VR headset. Although augmented reality will never replace travel, it does make worldwide experiences far more accessible." – Michael Robery from GTA Boom

Smart Wearables

Technology is also creeping into our experiences during travel. There are already travel companies using smart wearable technology to improve customer engagement.

For example, Air Berlin has smartwatch boarding passes that display documents with a shake of the wrist and can be scanned the same as a digital boarding pass on a phone.

Of course, relying on digital boarding passes can result in difficulties, and many travelers still rely on paper backups. So, perhaps a fully digital check-in isn't quite here yet.

The Role of AI

There are different opportunities for AI to enter the travel sphere. AI-powered chatbots like ChatGBT can already give you personalized travel recommendations, activity lists, weather reports, hotel recommendations, and more based on your inquiries and past travel history.

AI can also help with language barriers. Any chatbot equipped with language translation can provide real-time communication with locals, helping travelers navigate with ease.

"The travel industry will undoubtedly be disrupted by AI. The technology significantly eases the process of travel research, and can even give real-time updates on travel delays, prices, and more to make the process of traveling much smoother." – Dr. Johns from Hackr

But what will advances in AI mean for travel agents? Will more reliance on technology remove the human element of our vacation plans?

Cybersecurity Concerns

When any industry begins to rely too heavily on technology, dangers arise when the technology fails. Technology has unquestionably made us safer while we travel, but we need to respect its limits if we want to retain the joy of traveling.

"Huge amounts of information are collected by travel agencies, meaning that increased cybersecurity measures are needed to handle the increase in reliance on technology. " – Taimur Ijlal from Netify

Although technology is making travel more convenient, it's also creating a digital divide. In remote or economically poor regions, people have less access to the internet or digital devices, creating inequalities in travel opportunities and access to the best deals.

Over-Tourism & The Environment

Many of our leaps forward in technology have been made to help the environment. With less reliance on paper boarding passes and other documents, it can feel as though technology is helping our planet, but is that the whole story?

With travel becoming more convenient than ever, we're experiencing over-tourism in the most popular destinations around the world. Places like  Venice, Barcelona, and Bali are swarmed by tourists each year, leading to overcrowding, stretching of resources, and loss of culture.

There's also the issue of the envrionmental impact of flights. In the US alone, there are around 45,000 flights handled by the FAA's Air Traffic Organization (ATO) every day – that's a massive contributor to our carbon footprint.

The Verdict

As we look to the future, it's clear that technology will play an ever-growing role in the travel industry. From augmented reality and smart wearables to AI-powered planning, the impact is undeniable.

But the technology revolution doesn't come without challenges. With concerns about safety, over-tourism, and the environment, it's important to strike the right balance between technology and authentic human interaction when planning our trips.

This article originally appeared on TheRoamWild and was syndicated by MediaFeed.

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Philippines lags Southeast Asian neighbors in smart tourism index

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz , Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES lags behind some of its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of readiness in developing smart tourism ecosystems, hampered by high internet costs and accessibility issues in rural areas, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

In a report entitled “Smart Tourism Ecosystem Development Readiness in Southeast Asia,” the Philippines received an average readiness score of 56. A score of 100 indicates a country’s ability to adopt an enabling environment for smart tourism.

Among six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in the index, the Philippines ranked fourth, behind Thailand (72), Vietnam (67) and Indonesia (66).

The Philippines was ahead of Laos (53) and Cambodia (50).

“Despite national tourism policies prioritizing digitalization backed by strong tourist and industry demand, smart tourism ecosystem development in Southeast Asia is constrained by insufficient finance and limited digital skills, urban-rural digital divides, and an evolving legal and digital policy environment,” the ADB said in the report.

Having an ecosystem that enables smart tourism boosts a country’s attractiveness as a tourist destination, the ADB said.

“The Philippines demonstrates strong gender equality, high average broadband internet and 4G coverage, and good transaction infrastructure supporting online access to finance. Additionally, the Philippines has high digital talent availability,” the ADB said in the report.

The index measured a country’s overall readiness based on two factors — enabling environment and technological readiness.

The Philippines received a score of 57 under enabling environment, which assesses a country’s tourism competitiveness and digital inclusiveness in the legal, financial, social, and geographic fronts.

The report noted Laos and the Philippines scored highest in terms of equality between men and women’s internet usage.

However, the Philippines scored the lowest among its regional neighbors in terms of the urban-rural digital divide. Digital gaps are “perpetuated by unreliable electricity and network coverage gaps, low literacy rates, unafforda-ble internet services, and language barriers,” ADB said.

The Philippines also scored below-average on tourism competitiveness, legal environment for businesses, and financing options for technological development.

The country also received a score of 55 in terms of technological readiness, second lowest among the six ASEAN members.

The Philippines received low scores in terms of average internet speed, percentage of rural households with internet access, percentage of households or businesses with a computer, mobile access affordability, and research and development for digital innovation.

Among ASEAN counterparts, the Philippines scored the lowest on broadband internet costs and availability of electronic visas (e-visa).

All six countries scored low on access to electronic payments, ADB added.

ADDRESSING ISSUES

The ADB said the Philippines needs to address the urban-rural digital divide, expand financing options, lower broadband costs, and launch an e-visa facility.

The ADB noted the Tourism department is working to close the urban-rural digital divide by allocating $2 million to local government units (LGUs) for smart tourism projects.

The Philippines also started offering e-visas to some countries in the latter part of 2023 and is working with development partners to improve its smart tourism ecosystem. The ADB recently approved funding for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, which will establish a smart transportation system in Davao.

Overall, the ADB said the six ASEAN members struggle over a lack of digital infrastructure investments, urban-rural gaps, and threats to data privacy and cybersecurity.

Leonardo A. Lanzona, an economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said the Philippines must differentiate its tourism sector from its ASEAN neighbors to boost its share of the global market.

“The current digital transformation makes this more difficult since now we need more technologically savvy tourism workers, if not a more educated workforce, to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new technology,” Mr. Lanzona said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Sherwin E. Ona, a former associate dean at the De La Salle University College of Computer Studies, said the Philippine government must adopt smart tourism policies.

“Smart tourism should adopt platforms that can capture and aggregate customer needs and demands and at the same time link supply chains. An example of this is having a single online access point for tourism destination per region or province. These smart tourism portals can link the sites, together with accommodations, dining, shopping, and transportation sites that tourists can avail,” he said in a Viber chat.

The Philippines attracted 5.45 million tourists in 2023 and is targeting 7.7 million tourist arrivals this year.

To compare, 23 million international tourists visited Thailand in 2023, while 12.6 million and 11.68 million tourists visited Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively.

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In February, the United States Embassy & Consulates in Mexico issued a message for people traveling to Mexico for spring break. 'Travel Smart,' the message said before sharing advice on traveling safely through the country. 

Is Cancún Safe To Visit in 2024?

• Ananyaa Bhowmik
• Apr 29, 2024
• Apr 29, 2024 Updated Apr 29, 2024

In February, the United States Embassy & Consulates in Mexico issued a message for people traveling to Mexico for spring break. "Travel Smart," the message said before sharing advice on traveling safely through the country. 

The U.S. Department of State also updated the travel warnings for Cancún and the rest of the state of Quintana Roo. While they removed warnings about the high risk of kidnappings, the state is still under a Level Two advisory.

Thousands of Americans, including many students, travel to Mexico every spring. Cancún and Tulum , especially, remain popular beach destinations throughout the year. Despite its popularity as an easily accessible travel destination, Cancún has often found itself under Level Two advisory, with the U.S. government repeatedly reminding citizens of the many dangers of visiting the thriving land with its populous beaches. Does that mean one ought to remove Cancun from the list of possible future travel destinations? Perhaps not. 

The Current State

Like the rest of Mexico, Cancún has always valued its tourist industry. To ensure international travelers continue to frequent these lands, the nation introduced several security measures and ensured that tourist hotspots are always well-protected while visiting the city and the surrounding local areas.

According to a report featured in Riviera Maya News , Cancún recently deployed almost 2,400 officers to brace for the surge in tourist activities that happens every spring, ensuring the security of Quintana Roo's key areas.

Given the U.S. Embassy's warning, tourists may have reconsidered visiting the Mexican Caribbean this year. So, it should significantly benefit from the increased security around the zones that tourists tend to frequent. 

According to the U.S. Department of State, its Level Two status means that while crime still exists, it's primarily non-violent. There is currently no warning not to travel to Cancún and the rest of Quintana Roo, so it still remains as safe as usual there. Tourists just need to be cautious to avoid pickpocketing and scams. 

The local security forces frequently surveil the area known as the Hotel Zone: all the popular beaches, party zones, and famous resorts. Mexican officials are also focusing on providing land, air, and sea surveillance, covering everything from the hotel zones to beach fronts, bars, and even bus terminals, which are always well-guarded.

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Security isn't much of an issue, especially when it comes to Cancún and other beloved tourist destinations in Mexico. In fact, the 2023 Expat Insider survey by InterNations revealed that Mexico is the most popular nation for expats to settle in. The nation ranked first out of 53 destinations in the survey and has been in the top five since InterNations first conducted the study in 2014. 

Expats in the country found it easy to settle in and enjoy the affordability and access to a thriving social life. In fact, 90% of expats like living in Mexico and are happy there. That said, it is better to be safe than sorry.

To ensure one's journey to Cancún and other tourist hotspots is delightful instead of dangerous, the U.S. Embassy recommends enrolling in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updates on safety conditions in Mexico. Enrolling in the program will also allow the embassy to easily contact one in case of emergencies.

General street smarts, including being careful while walking around at night, especially outside the Hotel Zone, carrying limited cash , and obeying local laws, are important to keep in mind while visiting as well.

Here are a few other important tips to consider before jetting off on your next Mexico vacation:

• Stay up to date on travel advisories, country information, and entry requirements
• Having the necessary health and travel insurance with appropriate coverage 
• Don't swim while drunk or in unsafe areas. There are strong undercurrents and riptides on some beaches, and there may not always be a lifeguard or appropriate signage in the area, so one must exercise increased caution
• Drink responsibly and make sure to do it in groups
• Being careful while using public transportation, especially when alone
• Keeping passports and entry permits in a safe but accessible place 

Overall, it's important to exercise awareness of your surroundings, avoid unsafe locations, and leave as soon as potentially dangerous situations occur.

Originally published on mediadecision.com , part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange .

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3 Tourism Stocks to Buy for 100% Returns by 2025

April 28, 2024 — 04:00 pm EDT

Written by Faisal Humayun for InvestorPlace  ->

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

The tourism sector was among the worst impacted due to the Covid19 pandemic. However, as global travel and tourism now booms, tourism stocks are hot favorites. This view holds true for the short term as well as the long term.

In fact, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, international tourism hit $1.4 trillion last year. The estimates are rosy for 2024 even with macroeconomic headwinds.

Additionally, potential rate cuts are expected toward the end of 2024 and in 2025. This will have a positive impact on global growth. Therefore, many expect 2025 to be another good year for travel and tourism.

With positive industry tailwinds, let’s explore three tourism stocks likely to double before the end of 2025.

Expedia Group (EXPE)

Source: VDB Photos / Shutterstock.com

Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE ) is among the deeply undervalued tourism stocks to buy. Even after a rally of 41% in the last six months, it trades at a forward price-earnings ratio of 11. With the likelihood of strong quarterly numbers, I am bullish on the stock doubling before the end of 2025.

Expedia Group operates as an online travel company with impressive global presence. The company has made a strong comeback after the pandemic, and Q4 2023 was the highest even fourth quarter revenue.

Further, for the full year, revenue increased by 10% to $12.8 billion. For the same period, adjusted EBITDA increased by 14% to $2.7 billion. With operating leverage, it’s likely that EBITDA margin expansion will sustain this year.

Notably, Expedia Group has been aggressively adding new partners to its global travel ecosystem. With positive industry tailwinds, EXPE is likely to accelerate growth in the coming years.

MakeMyTrip (MMYT)

Source: Shine Nucha / Shutterstock

MakeMyTrip (NASDAQ: MMYT ) stock has skyrocketed in the last 12 months. However, the rally for this India-based online tourism company has been from deeply oversold levels. Considering the growth potential, I remain bullish on MMYT stock.

Importantly, India is likely to be among the fastest growing economies. This is true not just for 2024, but for the next ten years. With favorable demographics coupled with a swelling middle-class, the tourism sector is poised for a boom.

Further, estimates indicate that Indian travelers are likely to embark on five billion more trips by 2030. And, spending on travel and tourism is expected to hit $410 billion by the end of the decade. Clearly, with a massive opportunity, MMYT stock is a potential multibagger.

Investors note a sustained improvement in operating margin post-pandemic. With healthy growth, this improvement is likely to continue, supporting the stock rally. Additionally, a leading position in the Indian online travel market positions MakeMyTrip for accelerated growth in the coming years.

Tripadvisor (TRIP)

Source: Mano Kors / Shutterstock.com

Tripadvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP ) is another interesting pick among tourism stocks. The stock trades at an attractive forward price-earnings ratio of 17. With strong financials, the upside momentum for TRIP stock is likely to sustain.

Tripadvisor owns and operates a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, including Tripadvisor, Viator and TheFork. For 2023, the company reported revenue and EBITDA of $1.8 billion and $334 million, respectively.

In fact, Tripadvisor brand reported EBITDA margin of 34% for the last financial year. Viator contributed to 38% of total revenue but didn t report any EBITDA profit or loss.

Once the Viator business margin swells, the impact on overall margin and cash flows will be significant. While Tripadvisor revenue growth was 7% year-over-year ( YOY ), Viator grew at 49%. Therefore, the best part of cash flow upside might be due for the company.

On the date of publication, Faisal Humayun did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com  Publishing Guidelines .

Faisal Humayun is a senior research analyst with 12 years of industry experience in the field of credit research, equity research and financial modeling. Faisal has authored over 1,500 stock specific articles with focus on the technology, energy and commodities sector.

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The post 3 Tourism Stocks to Buy for 100% Returns by 2025 appeared first on InvestorPlace .

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Technology in Smart Tourism: Concepts and Applications

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• First Online: 10 July 2022
• Cite this reference work entry

• Hengky Sumisto Halim 2  

906 Accesses

The development of tourism competitiveness at this time is largely determined by the support of technology applications in terms of tourism information communication between tourists. Ease of access ranging from transportation’s order transaction information (aircraft transportation, ships, and online taxis), accommodation (resort or five-star hotel), destinations, and events are subjects for consideration. This book chapter discusses the concept of smart tourism supported by information communication technology. These two parameters are an element of the strength of the attraction of cultural tourism and tourist sites, which are equipped with the potential for handicrafts supported by the potential strength of culinary tourism (gastronomy). This book chapter also discusses the potential of information technology that increases tourism competitiveness and hospitality with ease and friendliness, which contributes to strengthen the factor of choice of tourists for tourist travel decisions. In addition, the strength of future tourism market trends is caused by industrial innovation and shifting tourist behavior due to communication technology support. All this greatly increases the potential for smart tourism.

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Halim, H.S. (2022). Technology in Smart Tourism: Concepts and Applications. In: Hassan, A. (eds) Handbook of Technology Application in Tourism in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2210-6_21

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