Tourexpi
The European Commission launches the 2025 edition
of the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of
Smart Tourism competitions. Tourism destinations across Europe are invited to
submit their innovative practices of smart and sustainable tourism to become
leading examples in European tourism.
As the EU’s third largest eco-system, tourism plays
a crucial role in economic growth and job creation. The Smart Tourism
initiative recognises cities implementing new digital tools and practices such
as equal opportunity and access to visitors, sustainable development and
support to creative industries and local talent. With these competitions, the
European Commission promotes and awards the future of smart and sustainable
tourism in Europe.
To compete for the 2025 titles, cities are asked to
demonstrate their innovative tourism practices and submit their applications
using an online form. Applications will first be evaluated by a panel of
independent experts. In the second step, shortlisted cities will be asked to
present their city’s candidature in front of the European Jury. The European
Jury will select two winners, the ‘European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025’ and
the ‘European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025’, which will be announced in
November 2024.
Both competitions are open to cities across both
the EU, as well as the non-EU countries that take part in the Single Market
Programme (SMP)[1]- former COSME Programme.
European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025 – Smart gets you further
The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition
has a proven track record of success. The 2025 European Capital of Smart
Tourism is the sixth edition of the competition. Dublin was selected as the
2024 Smart Capital. Previous winners include Pafos and Seville as 2023
Capitals, Bordeaux and València as the 2022 Capitals, Gothenburg and Málaga as
the 2020 Capitals, while Helsinki and Lyon won the inaugural competition and
jointly held the 2019 titles. Since 2024, there is only one winner of the
European Capital of Smart Tourism competition due to a change in competition
rules, whereas previous editions featured two winners annually.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025 will
benefit from communication and branding support throughout 2025 which will tell
the story of the outstanding smart and innovative practices that made it stand
out and win. This will include the production of a promotional video, a large
hashtag sculpture to install in a prominent location, diverse promotional
activities and visibility at EU level and internationally. The winner will also
have the chance to join a growing and active network of smart destinations that
were shortlisted in the five previous editions of the competition, exchange
best practices and learn from one another.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition
is open to cities with a population of over 100.000. For more information,
please refer to the European Capital of Smart Tourism Guide for Applicants.
European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025 – Green leads the way
The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourismis
the successor of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN)
competition which was first introduced by the European Commission in 2007
to reward non-traditional, emerging sustainable tourism destinations in Europe.
The competition is founded upon the principle of
promoting the development of sustainable tourism in smaller destinations which
brings value to the economy, the planet, and the people. Being the European
Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025 will allow the winning city to serve as an
inspiration to other tourism destinations across Europe, enhance their city’s
profile as a quality travel destination, attracting visitors and generating
economic growth in a sustainable way.
The Green Pioneer competition is open to cities
with a population between 25.000 – 100.000. For additional information, please
refer to the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Guide for Applicants.
For both competitions, applications must be
received by: 31 May 2024 at 17:00 CET.
Image
Credit: © AA
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