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Technology developments
Through a digital solution using VR technology, Kärnan (the iconic medieval tower Kärnan is a famous landmark in Helsingborg) helps younger visitors to understand a bygone historical era. In an app, children can immerse themselves in the medieval period around Kärnan and be part of life through a game. The user can move around the environment and get a visual picture of what it looked like at that time around Kärnan. The game was developed with pupils aged 7-12 at one of the city's schools and is free to download for anyone with a smartphone. Inside Kärnan, the result of another innovation project was also launched in May 2023: a digital story where technology conveys image, sound and new knowledge through projection on the walls of the tower. With the help of digitalisation and technology, Kärnan is more relevant than ever and attracts new visitors thanks to the exciting intersection of history and technology. Find out more via: https://innovation-helsingborg-se.translate.goog/initiativ/digitalt-pa-karnan/?_x_tr_sl=sv&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=sv&_x_tr_pto=wapp 42
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Discovery trails city app
Dublin Discovery Trails app helps bring the city's stories and communities to life. ‘Doors into the Docklands’ is the first trail released on the app and it is an innovative way to see the history of the Docklands come to life through smart technology. The app guides the user on a journey of discovery to some of the Docklands’ most loved sites and attractions, enabling them to uncover compelling stories of Dublin’s culture, heritage and history. A visitor can experience everything from the Guinness barges sailing down the River Liffey, to the Crimean banquet held in the CHQ or the story of the famine statues. The app has been a huge success since its launch with over 4000 downloads and an average dwell time of +30 minutes per user. The platform is also innovative from a procurement point of view as it its Ireland’s first immersive shared platform, meaning that tourism stakeholders can concentrate their resources on developing immersive experiences on one single platform for Dublin. 41 Find out more via: https://dublindiscoverytrails.ie/
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Digital training for private businesses
DSS Market Plaza is an online sales platform that helps businesses in their digital transformation while providing consumers with a virtual space where they can buy sustainably in local shops. Digital Dend@k offers advice on digital tools for retail businesses and financial aid to acquire computers. Also, San Sebastián Tourism offers digital training to its more than 325 private partners and the City Council has launched innovative projects to develop the digital skills of a strategic sector in the city: commerce. Its more than 2.500 retail establishments employ more than 12.500 people.Find out more via: https://dssmarketplaza.eus/es/
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Street Art Avenue
The banks of the Saint Denis canal, inaugurated in 1821, are a leisure area lined with cycle paths that can be followed from Paris. The Canal lies on the Seine à Vélo cycle route which ends at Le Havre in Normandy and on the Avenue Verte, which links Paris and London from the forecourt of Notre Dame Cathedral. Here, tourists can explore the vibrant frescoes of the Street Art Avenue as they cycle alongside the Canal, showcasing the city’s commitment to bridging the gap between art and sports, even beyond the major sporting events. Find out more via: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/street-art-avenue-p2015
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Sustainability in Tourism
Visit Cork’s Sustainability Strategy 2023 – 2030 outlines the ambition for Visit Cork to be the best Destination Marketing Organisation in Ireland. Social sustainability is increasingly a focus, with 85% of tourism sector respondents in a recent survey engaging in some form of charitable of community engagement activity. Business tourism activity is led by the Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) and is putting an increasing focus on legacy and regeneration. CCB has developed a guide to social sustainability initiatives for conference visitors and groups. These business visitors are not only being encouraged to take steps to ensure that their events create ‘zero-waste’ and are as sustainable as possible, but they are also encouraged to consider participating in events and activities that give something back to the local community.Find out more via: https://www.purecork.ie/pages/sustainability
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Germia Park
Germia Park in Prishtina stands as a prime example of the city's commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable practices. Recognising the significance of green spaces, the Municipality has undertaken efforts to reinvigorate and enhance Germia Park. The park now boasts newly created pathways, catering to activities such as walking, running, biking and various outdoor pursuits. This revitalisation aligns with the municipality's broader focus on bringing dilapidated recreational areas back to life, as well as establishing new ones. Germia Park, with its renewed infrastructure and emphasis on eco-friendly experiences, not only promotes sustainable tourism but also provides both residents and visitors with a tranquil and aesthetically pleasing environment to appreciate and engage with nature. Find more out at: https://www.kosovo-vacations.com/germia-park.html28
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Tree planting campaign
The ‘I want to plant a tree!’ campaign, initiated by Lviv in 2020, represents a commendable effort to enhance urban green spaces. This community-driven initiative invites residents to actively participate in seasonal tree planting, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the city's environmental well-being. Notably, in March-April 2023, over 200 trees were planted through this campaign, creating a climate alley along the city's central avenue. Additionally, Lviv has appointed dedicated gardeners for each city district and park since 2021. This ensures ongoing care and maintenance of planted trees, contributing to the overall health and vibrancy of urban greenery. Moreover, the city has integrated a mandatory requirement for planting or replacing old trees when reconstructing streets. State Company for the Management of Tourism Innovation and Technologies 26 Find out more via: https://lviv.travel/en
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Sustainable agriculture workshops
The workshops organised by the Agricultural Training School, under the jurisdiction of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Agriculture, provide a unique opportunity for both local and international tourists to immerse themselves in the principles of sustainable agriculture. Notably, the active involvement of women from neighbouring villages, showcasing their products, adds a dynamic dimension to these workshops. Participants, both local and foreign, engage in hands-on activities such as cooking with freshly harvested produce, preparing vegetables for drying and actively participating in sowing and planting exercises. Beyond offering tourists an 24 authentic experience in an agricultural setting, these workshops contribute to the economic empowerment of residents in the surrounding villages, creating a mutually beneficial environment. Find more out via: https://gaziantep.goturkiye.com/
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Leadership for climate change action
Dublin is focused on transforming into a more sustainable tourism destination that benefits everyone. The city has incorporated the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UNWTO Sustainable Tourism definition into its tourism development strategies and frameworks. Additionally, in 2023, Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, has become an official UN Sustainable Development Goal ambassador, contributing to the promotion of sustainable tourism in the heart of Dublin city. Dublin is the first Irish city to sign the UN Glasgow Declaration on Sustainable Tourism development, providing the city with a structured roadmap and reference point to achieve sustainable tourism goals. Recognising the need for more progress, 1100 Dublin locals were recently surveyed to gauge their perception of Dublin as a sustainable tourism destination. Only 35% felt that Dublin currently meets this criterion. As a result, the city has made it a top priority to integrate tourism sustainability at the core of its programs. Find out more via: https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/dublin-city-councils-climate-change-action-plan-2019-2024/dublin-city-council-climate-action-plan-2019-2024
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Free Bicycle Service
BÍSIM (Rent a Bike in Izmir) provides a bicycle service that promotes inclusivity by offering complimentary services not only for cyclists but also for individuals with specific mobility requirements. BÍSIM stations feature a distinctive device connecting bicycles and wheelchairs, enabling wheelchair users to accompany bicycles, complete with charging units for wheelchairs. The service also encompasses specially designed tandem bikes for individuals with partial sight, enhancing accessibility and ensuring a broad spectrum of users can avail themselves of the service. Find out more via: http://www.bisim.com.tr
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Bike and car-sharing services
The ‘Mi Muovo’ card gives users access to a network of 250 bicycles divided among 46 stations and the first 30 minutes are always free. Furthermore, with the Bicincittà APP, visitors can have access to 300 shared e-bikes, which they can use on Parma’s 160 km of bicycle lanes. These bike paths don’t just help cyclists get around Parma, they also connect with neighbouring towns; a development enabled by the municipality’s ‘Biciplan’. For tourists who would prefer not to pedal, there is a network of 900 e-scooters (managed through the DOTT app or TIER app). A free-floating car sharing service is also active in Parma, which allows vehicles to be picked up and dropped off in exclusive parking stalls. The service consists of about 30 vehicles including 4 commercial vehicles. In addition, there are 82 public charging stations in the municipal area for electric vehicles. 18 Find out more via: https://www.infomobility.pr.it/en/bike-sharing/
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Implementation of an Accessibility policy
Lviv is actively implementing an inclusivity policy to enhance its infrastructure. This involves creating barrier-free pedestrian crossings, complemented by an online map detailing these crossings. To assist visually impaired individuals, 90% of intersections feature sound signals at traffic lights, with ongoing efforts to cover the remaining 10%. Tactile navigation systems are being installed at public transport stops and the city has introduced accessible stops with raised curbs and island stops. About 48% of tram stops are designed for passengers of all categories. Lviv also has improved public transport accessibility, with 56.1% of rolling stock meeting accessibility standards through low-floor vehicles. Furthermore, as of 2023, 30% of hotels on Booking.com cater to people with disabilities. Find out more via: https://lviv.travel/en
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Integral accessibility action plans
The city has undertaken various initiatives to underscore its unwavering commitment to accessibility, with notable emphasis on the ongoing revision of the Integral Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Plan. Additionally, the Integral Plan for Safe, Sustainable Mobility (PIMSS) of Gijón 2018-2024 has been implemented, which is enhancing road safety and accessibility. These comprehensive plans include key initiatives such as the Parking Plan for People with Reduced Mobility, the establishment of a network of accessible pedestrian routes and the creation of the Municipal Office for Sustainable Mobility and Urban Accessibility (OMMS). Find out more via: https://www.gijon.es/en
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Creating a barrier free cultural landscape
Iasi´s primary objective is to ensure equal participation for all visitors, including those with disabilities, in creating a culturally inclusive environment. This involves enhancing each point of interest with features such as audio and visual content, sign language and text to guarantee accessibility. Notably, the National Theatre, Romanian Opera, Braunstein Palace (an international multicultural centre) and Turkish Bath (a contemporary art gallery) are designed to be easily accessible, along with commercial centres and cinemas. While some historical buildings currently lack elevators and ramps, ongoing refurbishments aim to incorporate appropriate equipment, fostering improved accessibility for a diverse range of visitors. Find out more via: https://www.turism-iasi.ro
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The Glucksman Gallery
The Glucksman Gallery in University College Cork is a striking, award-winning architectural structure nestled in a quiet green space by the river on the UCC campus. The Glucksman recently won the Art Museum Award in the 2023 European Museum Academy Awards. The Glucksman team has developed digital programmes and carried out large-scale projects onsite in the gallery spaces, as well as offsite in public spaces. The projects have enabled participants from marginalised and rural communities such as Traveller, refugees, LGBTQ+ and families experiencing homelessness to find a way to express themselves in society through creative agency. 14 Find out more via: https://www.glucksman.org/visit/access
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Community Engagement
Community engagement is at the heart of Cork’s proactive and dynamic celebrations of the city’s heritage and culture. The designation of several new ‘Cultural City Quarters’ has brought together the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors in these quarters and injected a renewed enthusiasm for collaborative initiatives that showcase the individual identity and unique attributes of each neighbourhood. Cork is also an active participant in the national ‘Culture Night’ celebrations, running since2006, during which arts and cultural organisations and venues across Ireland extend their opening hours in order to encourage and inspire public engagement, by running workshops, exhibitions and events free of charge. The festival has grown year-on-year, and despite the challenges of Covid restrictions in 2021, approximately 100 events took place in Cork for Culture Night, which is testament to the creativity and dedication of the Arts sector in the City. 71 Find out more at: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/arts-culture-heritage/heritage/cultural-heritage1.html
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Seville & Me
As a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of tourism destinations have had to reimagine their tourism marketing and offering to accommodate new and innovative areas of demand as well as being able to supply these. Seville has emerged as an audio-visual hub for Europe. With initiatives such as Seville & Me directly marketing the city as a great space and place for filming and the organisation of events that affect the public space. In total, to date, the office of Seville & Me has managed 123 films and 65 events and shows as a result of this initiative. Find out more at: https://sevillaandme.com
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GenovaJeans
is an important example to improve the image of the city using cultural heritage and creativity to attract tourists. Genoa is working at very important projects that put together the great history of the city with a special capacity for technological and industrial innovation. GenovaJeans marks the birth of the street of Jeans, a touristic, commercial, cultural, itinerary aimed at enhancing the streets (via Pre’, via del Campo, via San Luca) where the fabrics were produced and used since ancient times. The city wants to enhance its role and Italy in the birth and development of the most popular garment in the word, an icon of pop culture. The project is connected with Museum Diocesano and Museum Mazziniano to enhance them. Find out more at: www.genovajeans.it
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Old Town Festival
The Kaleiçi area is located in the centre-eastern portion of the city along the Mediterranean coast fronted by the yacht harbour that dates to the Roman era. Kaleiçi is a unique place where history, culture, art, entertainment, Turkish and world cuisine, traditional and modern architecture; different synergies come together. The first Kaleiçi Old Town Festival was organised in 2015 in order to share the stories of cities with living ancient cities such as Kaleici and to build permanent friendship bridges between cities. In 2019, the festival attracted great attention with the participation of 48 cities from 24 countries. With the Old Town Festival, Muratpaşa has become a part of a brand new intercity network in a very wide geography from Europe to Central Asia. Find out more at: https://www.kaleicioldtown.com/en https://antalya.com.tr/de/feste/Kaleici-Old-Town-Festival 68
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Teatro Stabile del Veneto “Carlo Goldoni”
Through its YouTube channel, the Teatro Stabile del Veneto “Carlo Goldoni” makes available most of its performance, even for digital tourists. Such an initiative helps people to access art. In 2021, with the collaboration of the Padova Chamber of Commerce and in the frame of the InduCCi project funded by Central Europe programme, the Teatro Stabile del Veneto “Carlo Goldoni” performed some plays about business theatre, involving local companies for the storytelling. Professional actors were put in contact with business firms that were willing to share their transformation stories, to conduct a thematic and narrative analysis of the industrial culture to understand how it changes. Find out more at: https://www.teatrostabileveneto.it/padova/
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Recovery of the environment and the complex Fabrica de Artilleria
The recovery, rehabilitation, and reclamation of Fabrica de Artilleria in Seville has been at the heart of an effort to rejuvenate the area and to create a space for the new Centro Magallanes for Entrepreneurship of Cultural and Creative Industries. This deteriorating urban space has been reclaimed by the city to create a new area for creativity and cultural heritage to flourish. As a part of this Find out more at: https://www.sevilla.org/ciudad/sevilla-ciudad-patrimonial/artilleria
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European Cultural Route
Together with the European Cultural Tourism Network, Pafos has formed the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation that is designed to develop, implement, manage, promote, and support, the European Cultural Route: “In the footsteps of St Paul, the Apostle of the Nations”. This transnational, cultural route aims to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the route that not only connects historic cities, cultures and countries but showcases a route into the annals of European history. It is an example of international partnership for the promotion, management, and support of shared European cultural heritage and its research. Find out more at: https://stpaul-culturalroute.eu
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Thinking Sustainably Gastronomy Festival
The Gastronomy Festival of Gaziantep forms the cornerstone of the city sustainable mentality. Drawing chefs and gastronomy experts from around the world, the festival invites all to experience and learn sustainable cooking methods with regional and local products sourced from Gaziantep. The festival is a culmination of the city’s rich gastronomical heritage but also a product of sustainable agriculture and primary sector production that feeds into the local cuisine. This basis for knowledge sharing is a fundamental aspect of the festivals sustainable goal. Find out more at: https://gastroantepfest.com
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EFEDERS Digital Education Platform
The Municipality offers a digital education platform called EFEDERS. Login to EFEDERS digital education platform, an ambitious digital education project of Efeler, is provided with free access codes distributed in the Municipality's Cultural Houses, National Aydın Bank Cultural Center, Youth Street Schools District and Uğur Mumcu Park. Efeler Municipality aims to create a continuity in education and a conscious society by providing various ways to increase knowledge and access to education and information for students and parents living in Efeler district. This will facilitate to overcome the education crisis experienced during the pandemic. The EFEDERS project offers free video 55 lectures, online practice exams and online books to approximately 52,000 students in Efeler that are well-suited for kindergarten, primary, secondary, high school and university preparation. This project, carried out to ensure continuity in education, had and has an impact on children and youth. In this process, children who need to be supported the most are supported both with face-to-face education at EFESEM and with distance education with the digital education platform EFEDERSTV. This project helped to meet the learning needs that arise with the ever-evolving technology. Realizing educational tourism in the digital environment helps to prevent this problem has also been a solution to the global problems experienced in recent years. The EFEDERS project was carried out by Efeler Municipality to create equal opportunities in educational activities and to eliminate the deficiencies in education. Find out more at : https://www.efeler.bel.tr/guncel/haberler/efesem-de-yeni-egitim-yili-basladi https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/dijital-egitim-platformu-efederstv-yarin-kamuoyuna-tanitilacak-1769432
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Internet Week Denmark
Internet Week Denmark is a festival taking place in and around Aarhus. The festival celebrates the success and the digital impact on innovation, business, and our everyday lives. The backbone of Internet Week Denmark is a weeklong festival based on crowdsourced events. This means that companies, educations institutions, networks and individuals contribute by hosting events during the festival. It is a great week of knowledge sharing, learning, social meetings, and networking. It brings attention to the impacts of the internet economy on growth and job creation as well as to the attraction and retention of talent and entrepreneurship. It is a week of talks, delates, workshops and hackathons. However, Internet Week Denmark is also a public festival for citizens and students. The festival is open to all, just like the internet is an open platform for all. Find out more at: https://iwdk.dk