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‘Virtual Clerk’ as an Artificial Intelligence Tool
In 2015, Gdynia has become the first Polish city to introduce solutions enabling convenient and friendly contact with customers via Virtual Clerk. It is fully designed and implemented by the staff of the Gdynia City Hall and works on the basis of an artificial intelligence mechanism that understands the question and immediately finds an answer or forwards it to the place where the answer is to be found. The Virtual Clerk is well adapted to the needs of the residents and the city by offering residents multi-channel communication and by including everyone. The accessibility also encourages people with restrictions to use this intelligent communication tool. Find out more at: https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/residents-account-gdynia-e-services-centre/ https://www.chatbots.org/conversational_agent/wirtualny_urzednik/ 54
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Zagreb Smart City Hub
The City of Zagreb has always kept in step with the times and with technology, using it to provide simple, clear and transparent access to information about its activities. The platform “Zagreb Smart City Hub” was created to help citizens find relevant information on “smart” projects and communicate on key decisions, and to involve them in strategic decision- making. The ultimate objective is to offer citizens, companies and institutions greater transparency and efficiency. The platform can be publicly accessed on the City of Zagreb’s official website. Find out more at: https://www.zagreb.hr/pametniji-i-transparentniji-zagreb-predstavljena-n/176924
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Smart Kalea Platform, data for city management
Different sensors were installed in the city by the San Sebastián administration. Their aim is to monitor various relevant parameters for the city management. The data collected is then manage by The Smart Kalea comprehensive platform, that monitors mobility, with counting sensors that are installed at different points in the city, but also traffic management with traffic control and monitoring cameras, that are deployed both at the entrances and in the city centre. Parking and underground park management are also concerned with sensors that measure mobility and parking availability, giving information on free parking lots in the municipal Donostia Transport App. Finally, public transports are also equipped with sensors and the vehicles have an Operation Assistance System to optimize fleet management. Find out more at: https://www.smartkalea.eus/es 51
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Making suggestions to visitors via “TPnP Tomi Go Matosinhos” App
Locals as well as visitors have the chance to download the TPnP Tomi Go Matosinhos application on smartphones or tablets. The application provides necessary information to the visitor of the municipality including a regional map and organized categories. The categories suggest different places to the visitors with regards to food spots, accommodations, activities, or events. All functions of the TPnP TOMI Go Matosinhos application can be used online and offline so that visitors can enjoy the spectacles and wonders of the region without worries. Find out more at: https://www.matosinhoswbf.pt/pages/356 49
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“Gdynia City Guide” Website and App as a comprehensive guide
The official tourist mobile application, a guide to Gdynia, is an application where users will find information about tourist attractions, the gastronomic and accommodation offer, sports and recreation sites, places for entertainment and shopping. It also contains a calendar that informs about events. In addition, hiking and cycling tours are offered along the most interesting, themed routes. The advantage of the application: It works both online and offline. The intuitive interface allows to quickly find interesting information, and the GPS location will direct locals and visitors to selected sites and events. 48 Find out more at: https://www.inyourpocket.com/gdynia
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Myth of Aphrodite App & AR Experience
This Augmented Reality (AR) app was a pilot action by the city of Pafos that has now been rolled out into a complete experience of the myth of Aphrodite. Users can download the app for free and enjoy, explore, and get informed about the expansive myth of Aphrodite. The app contains useful information and helps guide users through the geography of the myth as well as providing some AR opportunities at 4 locations along the route. Find out more at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aphrodites-birthplace/id1489046856
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Augmented Reality Routes
Gijón offers three augmented reality tours, with the aim of bringing visitors closer to the city’s history, its intangible heritage, its important historical events, and its residents. Visitors can then have more experiential tours with the following apps: The Cimavilla AR Tour, the Between Centuries AR Tour and Botanical Secret. A fourth app is also available, the Roman Gijón AR Tour, which promote the Gijón Romano product, using augmented reality in astronomic merchandising. 46 Find out more at: www.visitagijon.com
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Smart App for infos to the Historical Unesco Park
The Archaeological Park of Kato Pafos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Cyprus and has been included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1980. To ensure that residents and visitors alike have a complete and digital experience while visiting a smart app has been created. The app allows users to gain access to useful content and information about the various monuments around the park, an audio guide in several languages, multiple videos, and tours to explore as well as a rich photo gallery to take with you. Find out more at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unesco.pafos&hl=en&gl=US 45
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DETECt Aarhus App
The DETECt Aarhus web – app is a locative screen experience including three themed walking tours to discover Aarhus. By unlocking trailers, interviews with authors and ‘behind the scenes footage,’ the app takes visitors behind the scenes of popular films and TV series, such as the Danish crime drama Dicte. The DETECt app is mediated through the mobile phone on location. Visitors can download the app on WIFI or use it via mobile data. This feature has been implemented to cater also for guests from outside the EU, who cannot enjoy free data roaming. One of the tours introduces the city’s hidden silent film history, when Aarhus 110 years ago, was a centre for silent film production in Europe and home to silent films pioneers such as the film producer Thomas S. Hermansen and his film factory. 44 Find out more at: https://www.visitaarhus.com/detect-aarhus
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Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)
The Municipality of the City of Szeged decided to prepare the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. With the SUMP, it wants to lay the foundation for the transport development goals and measures for the period 2017-2030. The plan will help Szeged to synthesize existing urban and transport development plans and aims to provide sustainable 43 and integrated solutions to urban transport problems. This will eventually contribute to climate protection and energy efficiency objectives. Through the Sustainable Mobility Plan, the development of cycling will be prioritized in the city and the municipality has already taken several positive measures for cycling paths. The aim is to further increase the proportion of road sections with 40% of cycling facilities, and the public bicycle system will be operational from 2013. As a result, the share of cycling has doubled in the last decade and is expected to continue to grow until 2030. The SUMP also aims to improve conditions for pedestrian transport, to decongest the inner city, to create an intermodal hub between bus and rail, to develop complex transport in neighborhoods, to use intelligent transport systems and to influence the choices of road users. Find out more at : https://sump-central.eu/2020/11/07/sustainable-urban-mobility-plan-of-szeged/ https://www.eltis.org/it/node/49075
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“Like Bike” Friendly City
In 2021, Kaunas announced its aim of becoming the first 100% bike friendly city in the Baltics. Titled the “Like Bike” initiative and revolution, this project is aimed at renovating bike paths, creating bike-friendly pavements and paths, one thousand new bike ranks around the city, lower car speed limits in the city center and various other features and innovations that will enable Kaunas to become what it has set out to be: the first 100% bike friendly city in the Baltics. Beyond this infrastructural and policy orientated drive, the city municipality is coordinating with local cycle organizations and local 41 communities to enable a knowledge sharing and the direct inclusion of those that will participate and benefit from these measures. This in turn has greatly aided the municipality in gaining useful data and metrics on the cycling tendencies and habits of the community which has helped shape the future of this bike-friendly city. Find out more at: https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/kaunastic/kaunas-on-a-bike-routes-tips-and-more/
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Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan
Cork has implemented the Cork City Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) to reduce the City’s carbon footprint and invest in smart technologies. The plan includes the planting of trees (1,200 in 2021 and 1,500 in 2022) as well as the ‘City Trees Project’, launched in 2021. This included an investment of €350,000 for the installation of five robotic trees in the city that filter pollutants generated by traffic. Each unit can sift an amount of air equivalent to that needed by up to 7,000 people every hour. These developments are complemented by additional actions such as the pedestrianization of 17 city streets, the development of outdoor dining terraces in the city centre, and parklets (green seating spaces) in the place of parking bays, to create a welcoming and atmospheric city centre vibe, while striving to promote a low carbon society through traffic reduction. Find out more at: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/environment/climate-change/cork-city-council-secap-sustainable-energy-and-climate-action-plan-.html
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Park of Music and Singing Trees
In Aalborg, several artists, musicians, and singer-songwriters have left their mark on the Park of Music by planting a tree to commemorate their visit to the city. Some of the trees are accompanied by the artists' own music and can be activated by the park's visitors by pressing a button at the foot of the tree. Since then, many more trees and artists have joined and today, more than 80 great artists have left their mark on the park with oaks and wild cherry trees. Find out more at: https://www.enjoynordjylland.com/north-jutland/plan-your-trip/park-music-gdk596452
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The Zero Plastik Programme, to improve waste management
In collaboration with the City Council’s Environment Department, San Sebastián Turismo launched in 2021 the Zero Plastik Programme, with the aim of improving waste management in tourist accommodations. The latter, who are participating in the project, are committed to correctly classify waste they generate, offer customers tap water to avoid waste from plastic bottles and reduce waste from other plastic containers, mainly those related to amenities. Furthermore, guesthouses and apartments that request the card to open the public organic 31 waste container will receive stickers for waste containers at home, plus an adhesive poster with guidelines for correct waste assortment. Find out more at: https://www.donostia.eus/ataria/es/web/ingurumena/residuos/actividades-economicas/hoteles-zero-plastic
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Szeged Sustainable Energy and Climate Plan
Szeged has adopted a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) that sets an emission reduction target of 40% by 2030 – compared to the 2008 base year. This means that Szeged's annual CO2 emissions will not exceed 369 000 tons by 2030. Szeged is in a fortunate position: As its territory is rich in 30 renewable energy sources, it will support the city in achieving its sustainability goals. The number of annual hours of sunshine and the radiation intensity make Szeged the most favourable region in Hungary in terms of solar energy. The geothermal potential of the region is excellent, too: A significant amount of geothermal heat can be extracted and can play a major role in the district heating supply of the city. Biomass and wind energy are also economically viable sources of renewable energy that could help the city to expand its renewable energy potential. Find out more at : https://energiaklub.hu/en/project/sustainable-energy-and-climate-action-plan-for-szeged-city-4660
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Plan8
The product of the combined collaboration of 117 experts and 200 stakeholders in the city’s tourism industry, Seville’s Plan8 is an ambitious plan to reactivate the tourism industry following the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic and reignite the creation of employment and taking on the challenges following the pandemic. As a result, Plan8 was conceived which is based on around 8 main axes that each demonstrate a different line of work and set of tools for moving the municipal tourism industry forward. Tourism in Seville is taking a proactive role and focused its efforts by engaging with stakeholders and experts to bring a cohesive and innovative strategy for change. Find out more at: https://plan8sevilla.org
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Development of Sustainability Strategy
Visit Cork has developed the ‘Visit Cork Sustainability Strategy 2020-2023’ and the corresponding ‘Sustainability Policy’ which serve to benchmark the organisation’s goals and activities against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The strategy is reviewed annually and embodies a vision and ambition for the region’s tourism sector to invest in more sustainable practices. One of the priorities of the plan is to ensure that all Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) member businesses have a formal written sustainability policy and third-party sustainability certification. Visit 29 Cork also launched the inaugural ‘Green Award’ in 2020 to celebrate and acknowledge the industry’s commitment to improving sustainability. Find out more at: https://www.corkconventionbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Visit-Cork-Sustainability-Strategy-2020-2023-4.pdf https://www.corkconventionbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Visit-Cork-Sustainability-Policy.pdf
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Protection of cultural heritage
The City Council has specific programmes to promote and protect local cultural heritage, such as the Basque language. For example, the 53 city is working with a cutting-edge tool called ELE to measure the impact of tourism on the local minority language. Find out more via: https://www.euskadi.eus/evaluacion-del-impacto-linguistico/web01-a2kultur/es/
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STAMP
STAMP was developed to both support and showcase the value of creative thinking and artistic inspiration in helping to shape a vibrant and attractive city for locals and tourists. One of the project outputs was a pop-up city festival which placed an emphasis on visitors and locals being able to actively experience Cork’s creative offering by ‘doing and making’. This involved 55 separate events in 11 city centre venues, including the animation and ‘meanwhile’ use of some vacant and derelict premises. By shining a light on the tourism potential of Cork’s cultural and creative industries, the STAMP project managed to influence an enhanced focus on the potential of the creative economy into Cork City’s Culture & Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 (part of the National Creative Ireland Programme), which saw an investment of €1.2 million in nearly 100 community-facing projects and events during its lifetime. Working in partnership with 405 creative practitioners/partners, the city enabled approximately 971,000 creative engagements by audiences and participants. Find out more via: https://stampcork.ie/
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A modern city with culture and events
Brandts Klædefabrik, an old textile mill, has evolved into a creative area with shops, cafes, a cinema, concert venues and Art Museum Brandts. In 2022, Art Museum Brandts broke its visitor record with 113 748 visitors. Odense is the cultural capital of Fyn, with more than 70 regular and recurring events and festivals throughout the year. With visions of creating Denmark’s largest and most sustainable outdoor concert venue, the city embraces its identity as an event city and one of the greenest cities in Denmark. Through the project Cities for Culture, several projects are already on the drawing board to make sustainability the easiest choice for our visitors. Find out more via: https://brandts.dk/
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The ‘Lighting for Genoa’ project
The ‘Lighting for Genoa’ project involves illuminating the historic centre of Genoa. Each square has been assigned to an Italian lighting designer and all installations are LED low energy consumption. Find out more via: https://www.spacecannonsne.it/portfolio-items/piazza-don-gallo-genova/
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Events celebrating the local cuisine
The city hosts yearly events such as Festa do Chocolate (Chocolate fair) and Rally Fish. The latter shows off the local cuisine, a sector under continuous development, which is of crucial economic importance in the county. These initiatives attract attention of many visitors and create a unique experience where gastronomy and creativity come together. Find out more via: https://www.cm-matosinhos.pt/servicos-municipais/comunicacao-e-imagem/eventos/evento/rally-fish-38
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2020-2024 Izmir Strategic Plan
The 2020-2024 Izmir Strategic Plan aims to preserve and revitalise the city's rich cultural heritage, which extends to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Kemeraltı Bazaar, Gediz Delta, Ephesus and Pergamon, Izmir. The new strategy integrates tourist activities with the city's profound cultural legacy, fostering innovation. New initiatives include constructing tourist routes such as Olive Roads, Izmir Heritage Roads, Efeler Roads and Eurovelo Roads. These paths not only highlight the city's natural beauty but also provide avenues for visitors to explore diverse attractions, aligning with the broader goal of enhancing Izmir's touristic offerings. Furthermore, the strategic restoration of the Izmir Port, a significant historical landmark undergoing a six-year renovation, is crucial for achieving the objectives outlined in the plan. Serving as a historical hub on the trade path and attracting domestic and international tourists, the port plays a pivotal role in preserving Izmir's historical heritage. Find out more via: https://www.izmir.bel.tr
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Restoration of Istanbul’s Historical Areas
The Historic Peninsula of Istanbul encompasses four designated zones recognised as Istanbul Historical Areas, listed as World Heritage Sites. Notable restoration efforts include the City Walls (‘Mevlanakapı’), now accessible to visitors and the completed restoration of Anadolu Hisarı on the Bosporus, with ongoing efforts to restore Rumeli Hisarı. Maintenance and repairs have been concluded for the Column of Goths and Obelisk in Sultanahmet, crucial archaeological assets dating back to the 4th century. Instances like Casa Botter and Sen Piyer Han serve as positive references for public-private partnership projects, illustrating active management of restoration projects, public accessibility and contribution to creative development in restoration efforts across Turkey. 46 Find out more via: https://istanbul.goturkiye.com/
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Odense of the past
In Odense, the link with the Viking age is clear and even the city name, which translates to ‘Odin’s shrine,’ tells us that the locals worshipped Odin, the king of the Norse Gods. In 1086 the last Danish Viking King, Canute IV, was killed in Odense, another important event in the collective Danish history. The Viking ring forts are a testament to the Vikings and their highly developed technical expertise and organisational skills. Despite being hidden underground, the ring fort in Odense is made visible through a digital art installation, as part of Nonnebakken. The four other Danish ring forts are set to be awarded UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status at the end of September. Furthermore, at the city’s cultural-historical museum, Møntergården, visitors can explore the history of Odense, from the Viking age until today. Møntergården consists of a modern building with exhibitions as well as listed buildings. Find out more via: https://www.visitodense.com/tourist/what-do/time-travelling/feel-presence-history-odense