Government to introduce 'SMARTUR' - technological platform to manage Smart Tourist Destinations

During her speech at the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2020, held in Seville, the minister also announced that ''DATAESTUR' - a web page that will contain basic data on tourism in Spain - will be launched, from which it will be possible to access different sources of tourism statistics, primarily from public and private bodies. All this information will allow a new model of knowledge to be created, that will be held by the Smart Tourism Observatory.

Reyes Maroto recalled that "the pandemic has speeded up the digitalisation process of our tourism model with an increasingly more connected and multi-channel tourist. Tourist destinations must be the protagonists of this digital transformation. At this time, it is necessary to address the transformation process that the Spanish tourism model needs and the TIS is an excellent forum to showcase the latest technologies, solutions, innovations, models and trends that are revolutionising the tourism sector".

According to the minister, the government's priority is to convert the dual digital and ecological transition into an opportunity to remain as the most competitive country in the world in tourism terms. The Modernisation and Competitiveness Plan for the Tourism Sector will free up more than 3.4 billion euros over the next three years to modernise and enhance the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector from a comprehensive perspective that encompasses strategic spheres of action, such as the sustainability of destinations and products, the boosting the circular economy in the sector, the conservation of historic heritage, the digital transformation of the tourism model and the strengthening of trade in tourist areas.

"The government wishes to make a decisive commitment to digitalisation and smart tourism, with a public investment of 355 million euros with the aim of increasing levels of productivity, profitability, employment and competitiveness by boosting digitalisation, artificial intelligence and new enabling technologies in companies and at destinations", said Reyes Maroto.

Together with digitalisation, the minister pointed to sustainability as another fundamental pillar. On this matter, Tourism Sustainability Plans will be developed with the aim of modernising pioneering tourist destinations and rural and inland destinations.

"In the case of the former, actions will be carried out to improve the capacity of managers to reconvert their tourism models and employ a smart and sustainable tourism model. In the case of the latter, the aim is to make rural destinations more dynamic to thus contribute to tackling the demographic challenge, use green infrastructures in a sustainable fashion and support local authorities to ensure they have bodies to manage the destination", finalised the minister.

Non official translation