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• Inspired by the Roman heritage of Minho’s capital
  Altice Forum Braga is a multi-purpose structure, dedicated to exhibitions, congresses and other events of a socio-cultural, scientific, recreational and sports nature as well all kinds of recreational and entertainment shows. The Altice Forum Braga is the result of the complete redevelopment of the former Braga Exhibition Park and has become a flagship venue in the North of the country. Find out more at: https://www.forumbraga.com
• The bustling walled city of Dubrovnik
  hosts its spectacular and one of the oldest European festivals that annually, for 47 summer days, presents rich and vibrant theatre, dance, opera, classical music, jazz, visual arts, film and folklore programme. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is recognised as one of Europe’s most distinguished cultural festivals. Relying on the City’s and its own rich and living heritage, the festival continues to promote its site-specific policy, combine tradition and modernity, and connect local, national and international creativity. The festivals’ catalogue, during the seven decades of existence, comprises more than 120 various venues, which covers almost the entire city and the sea surrounding it, resulting in a unique bond between the city and the festival. Find out more at: https://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/en/
• In 2015
  opened in the historic building of the Marine Station. It is the first museum in the country that is dedicated to the history of Polish emigration. The permanent exhibition tells the story of the departure and fate of Polish people around the world in the past and in close connection with the present day. Through the stories of Polish women and men, visitors get a chance to learn about the history of the city from where Polish transatlantic ships sailed for decades. The museum has an inclusive character as it provides a free offer tailored to the needs of people with disabilities or special needs.Find out more at: https://polska1.pl/en/home/
• The Lousiana Museum of Modern Art
  located in Copenhagen was nominated by the network ‘Leading Culture Destination’ for best digital museum experience with the ‘Louisiana Channel’. It is a non-profit website based at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark. With Louisiana Channel as a platform, Louisiana supplies culture to the Net that extends beyond the museum’s own events. The Louisiana team produces videos about art and culture on an ongoing basis, and new videos are posted every week. The platform was launched in 2012 and consists today of more than 875 videos about art and culture, free and accessible to all.Find out more at: https://channel.louisiana.dk/
• Located in Ljubljana
  the BTC Company, along with the AV Living Lab company, created the BTC City one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, as a lab test environment: an ecosystem of more than 3000 companies, developing advanced mobility, a digital park, an ABC accelerator twice awarded with the CESA award for best accelerator programme. BTC company not only provides the possibility of sharing electric vehicles in the area but also the option of paying with bitcoin, thus making Ljubljana the first bitcoin city in the world.Find out more at: https://www.visitljubljana.com/de/poi/btc-city/
• Smart lifebuoys for safer beaches
  Feeling safe during bathing is an important factor in attracting people to the beaches and this is what Helsingborg’s smart lifebuoys are contributing to. Helsingborg is the first city in the world with lifebuoys that, with the help of magnetic sensors, automatically sound an alarm when they are removed from their holders. The magnetic sensors alert the authorities straight away whenever a buoy is removed, which allows them to quickly replace it. This creates safer bathing experiences for residents and visitors and also helps to save lives. Find out more at: https://innovation.helsingborg.se/en/initiative/smart-lifebuoys-make-be-beach-walks-safer/
• Discovering through augmented reality
  The “Stadtgeist Karlsruhe” app is an augmented history app that revives stories of, with and around Karlsruhe and makes exciting audio and video contributions available free of charge by collaborating with the city archive. The app is considered as a national pioneer and won the German AppCampus Award in 2013 and was implemented as part of the SmarterCity initiative in Karsruhe.Find out more at: http://www.stadtgeist-karlsruhe.de/
• Digital Trail Toolkit
  The Smart Tourism Programme for Dublin, supported by Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland and Imaginear have developed a Digital Trail Toolkit, designed to help identify best practice for destinations and businesses who wish to develop digital trails. The Digital Trail Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to assist industry in Digital Trail App development. Although there are many different types of app and digital trail developments in the tourism industry, there are few examples of toolkits developed specifically for organisations who are interested in building their own digital trail. The purpose of the Toolkit is to help identify best practice examples of digital trails and create a path to development for destinations and businesses who wish to develop digital trails. Find out more at: https://smartdublin.ie/smart-tourism-digital-trail/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smart-tourism-digital-trail
• Locals’ Guide to Copenhagen:
  In the Copenhagen Visitor Service centre, visitors can experience the city through soundscapes, VR-experience and more, before exploring the city for themselves. Visitors can immerse themselves with a VR- bicycle experience in the visitor centre, learning how to navigate the streets of Copenhagen on a bike and what to be aware of. Copenhagen Visitor Service also have a digital guide – Copenhagen Visitor Guide – with selected recommendations for attractions, museums, eateries, shopping etc. which can be accessed in the visitor centre, and on several local tourist information centres in city – and of course on smartphones. Find out more at: https://www.facebook.com/vrpro.dk/videos/927144760774187/
• The ZKM Center for Art and Media based in Karlsruhe
  with more than 30 years of work, is considered a “digital Bauhaus” of the 21st century. It is a cultural institution of all media and genres, whether space- or time-based and belongs to the world’s most important cultural institutions listed by ArtFacts.net, the world’s largest art database which ranked the ZKM behind international giants like MOMA in New York or the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The ZKM Center and media art in general have a strong appeal in superregional marketing. Media art is one aspect that the city focuses on and is proud of. Karlsruhe was named Germany’s first UNESCO City of Media Arts in 2020 since it presents digital and analog art a tangible experience in public spaces for locals and visitors, for example through the annual Seasons of Media Arts festival.Find out more at: https://zkm.de/en and https://www.cityofmediaarts.de/
• Supporting local goods and business
  By launching the initiative “Shop in Porto” the municipality has created a digital platform which is dedicated exclusively to traditional street commerce and promotes the visibility and attractiveness. The platform gathers information’s about all the shops, its products, locations and promotes in force allowing the creation of personalised itineraries. To date, 1,600 traders have allowing for a comprehensive overview of the locally source and traditional commercial street vendors of Porto. In doing so, the city has digitalised and modernized a traditionally non-digital aspect of its commercial scene. Find out more at: https://www.porto.pt/en/video-clip/shopinporto-en
• HERIT-DATA project
  The city of Florence is also one of the pilot sites of the HERIT-DATA project. The key objective is to develop and test a new management system and AI tools through the collection of existing, and generation of complementary, data (Big Data, Open Data, IoT, data provided through sensors, local systems & cameras, etc.). The treatment of inputs (data) from citizens, visitors, companies, public administrations, and the sites themselves will bring benefits to different stakeholders from an improved quality of life to information for better decision-making. Read more about HERIT-Data here https://herit-data.interreg-med.eu
• ‘Dublinked’
  Dublin’s National Open Data Strategy 2017-2022 encourages public bodies to make data available for everyone. Thus, its open data platform called ‘Dublinked’ hosts over 300 data sets, including many tourism databases that are used to build better tourism experiences by managing data feeds in digital city kiosks so visitors can navigate the city better. Additionally, open data challenges are run, and teams are invited to build helpful city solutions using open travel data sets. Find out more at: https://www.dublincity.ie/business/economic-development-and-enterprise/smart-cities/dublinked
• Find a parking spot online
  About 1900 sensors were installed in Dubrovnik with the aim of finding a free parking space and reducing traffic jams. Given the number of sensors and the fact that they are installed throughout Dubrovnik, it is one of the largest integrated smart parking solutions implemented on the Narrowband Internet of Things network worldwide. For drivers to be able to see which parking space is free at any time, and therefore plan where they could park, a special application for mobile devices has been created and is available to everyone, both the citizens of Dubrovnik and tourists. This saves drivers time looking for a free parking space and reduces congestion caused in large part by drivers circling the streets in search of an available space to park. In some places in the city, a system of twenty public information displays has been set up to enable those citizens who do not use the application to see the free parking spaces a few streets earlier and to be able to see which place is available in time. Find out more at: https://hrturizam.hr/en/u-dubrovniku-pokrenut-jedinstven-sustav-pametnog-parkiranja/
• Smart travel plan
  In addition, the digital route planning service ‘Rejseplanen’ (the Travel Plan) that guides travellers from A to B on their itinerary, now includes not only public transportation, but also services such as city bikes, city cars and ridesharing, which are displayed in those areas where the services are available. Find out more at: https://www.rejseplanen.dk/webapp/?language=en_EN#!P|TP!histId|0!histKey|H662483
• Decentralisation at the heart of tourism
  In order to relieve pressure of high demand areas and facilities Porto has, as a part of its municipal master plan, promoted the dispersion of tourist flows and the creation of new centralities as well as stimulating the extension of stays. The decentralisation of tourism accommodation is encouraged by municipal regulations, and creation of new accessibilities and requalification of infrastructures have also had a pollinating effect, attracted new investors, and contributed to physical, economic, and social regeneration of these areas. Dispersion of fairs and markets has also created new poles of interest and attractiveness, reducing socio-spatial asymmetries. Find out more at: https://www.investporto.pt/en/news/porto-city-council-approves-new-municipal-master-plan/
• UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere, Where People and Nature Connect
  Dublin city is home to the Dublin Bay Biosphere which has a unique UNESCO designation, as it is the only Biosphere Reserve worldwide which includes within its area a national capital city. It recognises the biodiversity of the area, as well as the economic, cultural and tourism importance of this biodiversity, and the need for an ecologically sustainable economic model for the Biosphere. The Biosphere was expanded in 2015, now covering the whole of Dublin Bay, extending to over 300km2. Over 300,000 people live within this newly enlarged Biosphere. The buffer zone comprises 82km2 of public and private green spaces such as parks, greenbelts, and golf courses, which surround and adjoin the core zones. The transition zone comprises 173km2 and forms the outer part of the Biosphere. It includes tourism hot spots, residential areas, harbours, ports, and industrial and commercial areas. The Biosphere has three main goals: conservation, which focuses on promoting the conservation of landscapes, habitats, wildlife, and cultural values; learning, which emphasizes supporting education and research for a better understanding of nature and global issues, and development, which aims to fostering a sustainable economy and society for people living and working in the area. It operates important programmes to help foster economic and environmental sustainability. To build on this success, the partnership has developed a five-year Conservation Programme, a five-year Research Strategy, a three-year Business Development Plan and an Education and Awareness Programme. Within the Dublin Bay Biosphere, which includes three Blue Flag beaches, are exceptional recreation areas for both Dubliners and tourists alike. Visitors who use wheelchairs can now access these amenities due to the introduction of special ‘beach wheelchairs’ which are available free of charge at North Bull Island and Dollymount Strand. For visitors, another popular way to explore the biosphere is on the award-winning Biosphere Discovery Tour which is run by Dublin Bay Cruises. Furthermore, 1600 Dublin bikes and explore the Biosphere on Dublin’s newest Coastal Mobility Route, which comprises over 3.6km of cycling and walking path along Dublin’s coastline which was opened in 2020. Since opening, the Coastal Mobility Route has become an important sustainable transport corridor for Dublin which helps to spread our visitors more sustainably throughout the city. The route is also fitted with smart sensors to measure its usage. Its success has transformed how people get around Dublin, with over 20,000 cycle trips being recorded every week, a 100% increase since 2019.Find out more at: https://www.dublinbaybiosphere.ie
• The Ocean Race Project
  The Ocean Race is an epic adventure in which the world’s top sailing teams circumnavigate the planet powered only by the wind. While the first Ocean Race in Europe has arrived in Genoa in June 2021, the Grand Final and the project ‘Racing with Purpose’ will take place in 2023. The sustainability programme brings together a range of tangible ways that will positively impact the marine environment such as rolling out initiatives for cleaner, healthier seas and a learning programme. Genoa as host city makes use of the Ocean Race by contributing vital scientific data to aid the understanding of ocean health and the effects of climate change by using our race boats to collect valuable data on sea surface temperature and ocean acidification. Moreover, the city will ensure that every element of the race village is sustainably produced: from being free of single-use plastic to the seafood served on site and invite people who visit the events to help protect the ocean. In overall, the city will use the Ocean Race Summits series as an occasion to change the way people behave towards the ocean for good. It will therefore host innovation workshops for sailing clubs and offer learning programmes for adults and schoolchildren about the issues affecting the ocean. When in June 2021 the Ocean Race arrived in Genoa, the whole race village was powered by 100% renewable energy and the Race was climate positive, supported by blue carbon projects. This will inspire others to act on climate change. Find out more at: https://www.visitgenoa.it/en/evento/genova-will-host-finish-ocean-race-europe
• Helsingborg as a self-marketing destination
  Helsingborg as a self-marketing destination is a project aiming to develop a sustainable tourist destination with the hospitality industry playing a vital role. The project is a collaboration between eleven municipalities in the region which aim to create a destination filled with ambassadors. This involves cooperation with the hospitality industry to develop a strategy for the region to become a sustainable tourist destination. Self-marketing requires engagement and pride from the local hospitality companies and also requires improved knowledge about the region. The municipalities and the hospitality industry therefore agreed on three key aims for the project: 1. A destination filled with ambassadors, 2. A destination that is balanced, 3. An innovative destination.Find out more at: https://www.citynationplace.com/digital-transformation-place-branding
• ‘Maister’ as environmentally friendly transport
  Dedicated to green tourism, the city offers an electric mini vehicle named Maister that drives around the narrow center of Maribor and the pedestrian area free of charge. The city intends to give plenty of options for tourists and locals to travel around the city with minimal environmental impact. Maister is intended for all residents, visitors of the town and tourists, elderly, people with limited mobility, and for parents with children and takes users anywhere they want within the city center. Find out more at: https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/what-to-do/transports/6314-
• Eco-friendly city and free transport
  With respect to the environment, the city is encouraging its citizens to forego vehicles by offering a public transport service which is free of charge. Marbella is the first Spanish city to offer that to its residents. This, in turn, has increased the use of public transport compared to private transport. Due to the increased demand, the city has absorbed two more bus lines that belong to the regional network and are included in the local network. Of the 19 buses that make up the public transport network, five of them have hybrid technology promoting low emission by public transport. Additionally, electric vehicles can make use of installed charging points.
• The world’s first electric-powered ferry line
  Helsingborg’s location on the Öresund strait also allows visitors to come to the city by boat. The ferry company ForSea has not settled for carbon heavy transport alternatives but has gone a step further. ForSea became the first ferry company in the world to make their ferries battery-powered, with the batteries being charged continuously. While previously powered with conventional fossil fuels, the ferries are now charged during the short time when docked at Helsingborg or Helsingör and taking vehicles and passengers to disembark and embark.Find out more at: https://www.forseaferries.com
• co-friendly, economical, and sustainable transportation policy
  For an environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation policy, Izmir’s administration has implemented many infrastructure and incentive projects to reduce motorized transportation and to increase bicycle and pedestrian transportation. The “Izmir Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan” has added 84 km of bike paths, a bike rental system BİSİM with 55 stations and 890 bikes. There are 120 tandem bikes in BİSİM stations especially for the use of blind people and 120 BİSİM bikes can be used by children. To underline this endeavor, the Metropolitan Municipality has established free repair and parking spots throughout the city. Find out more at: https://www.bogaziciproje.com.tr/en/our-projects/izmir-cycling-and-pedestrian-transport-action-plan and https://www.izmir.bel.tr/en/rent-a-bicycle---bisim-/508/2169
• How to rethink urban planning and balance
  Rotterdam’s inner “City Lounge” is a concept plan that is designed to create a balance between cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport for a more attractive living environment. The clear objective: to increase the share of clean trips in the city. The centrepiece of the City Lounge is the new Coolsingel, a dual bus carriageway which goes straight through the city centre is now a green boulevard with natural stone pavements and a wide pedestrian promenade with a two-way cycle path. By doing so, the city of Rotterdam has demonstrated that creating space for cars is now a thing of the past and the city has become more accessible to clean forms of transport. Find out more at: https://thecityateyelevel.com/stories/rotterdam-inner-city-creating-a-city-lounge-for-all/
• Innovative Signage makes world of colour accessible to colour blind
  Born in Porto, the ColourADD has reached worldwide acclaim as an innovation in helping people who are colour-blind participate in the colour dominated world of signage. Here in the city, it appears on tourist maps, flags and Ecopoints on the beaches and on car parks to help everyone navigate, understand, and feel welcome to an accessible experience of the city. Find out more at: http://www.coloradd.net/imgs/ColorADD-About-Us_0315.pdf