In recent years, in addition to many national projects, a number of European projects have also focussed on topics relating to data management in tourism and smart, data-driven destinations. Good examples include Smart Tourism Destinations and the European Data Space for Tourism (DATES and DSFT). The EU has also introduced competitions such as the Intelligent Cities Challenge, European Capitals of Smart Tourism and EDEN – European Destinations of Excellence. They are all based on the basic ideas of the Transition Pathway for Tourism.
Since November 2023, a consortium including the NIT has been working on an Eurpean Competence Centre for smart destinations (Data-driven Destinations Hub, D3HUB).
D3HUB started in November 2023 and will run for three years. The aim is to develop a competence centre for European tourism destinations and tourism SMEs that will function as a point of contact for DMOs in Europe.
In detail, D3HUB
- establish a knowledge support system for tourism destinations across the EU,
- provide customised digital solutions and data for DMOs and tourism SMEs,
- test concept with pilot destinations and DMOs,
- develop a business plan
- build a community of smart destinations, and
- establish the competence centre and ensure its continuity.
The development and establishment of the competence centre was commissioned by EISMEA (European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency). A consortium of eight institutions in five countries is carrying out the project. The consortium consists of destination practitioners, complemented by researchers, solution providers, tourism statisticians and specialists in public administration and project management. In Germany, the project is managed by the NIT in Kiel. All partners can be viewed on the project website.