• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

Travel Magazine

Top Travel Destinations in Pictures

  • Travel Advertising
  • Make a Contribution
  • Contact

Helsinki and Lyon Awarded Titles of 2019 European Capitals of Smart Tourism

November 7, 2018 By Travel Magazine

The European Union initiative supports the exchange of best practices for innovative solutions by EU cities to strengthen their sustainability and competitiveness as tourist destinations in the new industrial era

The winners of the first edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition were awarded today at a ceremony in Brussels, on the occasion of the European Tourism Day the largest annual meeting on European tourism.

Pia Pakarinen, Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor, Alain Galliano, Vice-President of Lyon Métropole and Jean-Michel Daclin, President of ONLYLYON Tourism and Congress, received European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2019 trophies on behalf of their cities and were delighted that long-term efforts in creating smart environments for tourists in their cities have been recognised at EU-level.

Pencil-sharpener building, Lyon

In praise of the winners, Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, stated: “I congratulate Helsinki and Lyon for the outstanding solutions that they put in place to make tourism in their cities smart and innovative. Our objective at EU level is to foster the sustainable development of tourism by showcasing innovative solutions from EU cities in tourism. We believe that the European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative will help to establish a framework of exchange of good practices between European cities, including learning from each other and networking, creating opportunities for cooperation and new partnerships. Tourism is important for the EU economy so we all need to work together more effectively to be more competitive and grow in a sustainable way”.

Pia Pakarinen, Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor commented: “We very much appreciate the opportunity to be the first European Capital of Smart Tourism. The first ones always set the bar and we aim high.”

David Kimelfeld, President of Lyon Métropole, proud of his city’s achievement said in a video message: “The exchange of good ideas has always moved us forward in Europe and that is why we are so pleased to receive this Award and to have the opportunity to share with other European cities a few of our ideas about smart tourism. We hope with our initiatives we can also inspire other cities!”

In addition, four cities received 2019 European Smart Tourism Awards for their outstanding achievements in the four categories of the competition: Málaga (Accessibility), Ljubljana (Sustainability), Copenhagen (Digitalisation) and Linz (Cultural Heritage & Creativity).

The European Capital of Smart Tourism is a new EU initiative, based on a proposal from the European Parliament, which secured its funding for 2018 – 2019 through a Preparatory Action. The initiative seeks to strengthen tourism-generated innovative development in EU cities and their surroundings, increase their attractiveness as well as strengthen economic growth and job creation. It also aims to establish a framework for the exchange of best practices between cities participating in the contest, create opportunities for cooperation and new partnerships.

In order to become a European Capital of Smart Tourism, a city needed to demonstrate exemplary achievements as a tourism destination in implementing innovative and intelligent solutions in all four award categories: accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation, cultural heritage and creativity. It also needed to convince the European Jury about its suitability to act as role model for other burgeoning smart tourism destinations.

Cities of more than 100.000 inhabitants were eligible in the first edition of this competition. 38 cities from 19 EU Member States applied, but Helsinki and Lyon stood out for their innovative tourism measures and the impressive programme of activities they have put together to celebrate their achievements.

Helsinki and Lyon have been awarded with promotional videos, exhibition at European Tourism Day and purpose-built giant sculptures which will be installed in prominent locations in the two cities. During 2019 both Capitals will benefit also from promotional actions at EU level.

To celebrate their success, Helsinki and Lyon have planned an exciting schedule of activities for 2019. For example, Helsinki will be launching a smart city guidance pilot scheme, making use of collaborative work with businesses and digital tools to create a smarter way to guide people in the city. Helsinki will organise a workshop with other European cities on smart tourism and will hold the World Tourism Cities Federation’s annual global summit and trade fair.

Lyon’s representatives will be travelling the globe for shows, press meetings and special events to inform new audiences about the city’s smart opportunities. These activities will be supplemented by Lyon’s 26,000 strong network of ambassadors. The city is also launching its “World Travel Influencer Meetings” and is taking part in the Global Sustainability Programme.

For all the latest news on the European Capital of Smart Tourism, including updates about the event programmes in both of the winning cities, sign up to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Notes

The first edition of the competition was open to submissions from 11 April 2018 to 30 June 2018. Terms and conditions are available at www.SmartTourismCapital.eu
In the first stage of the competition, an independent panel of experts evaluated applications from 38 cities in 19 EU Member States and narrowed these down to 10 finalist cities.
The 10 finalist cities each presented their candidatures in front of a seven member European jury, comprising representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, European Committee of Regions and the EU Member States: Bulgaria and Austria (holders of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during 2018) at a Jury meeting in Brussels on 24 September 2018.
Two cities winning the title of the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2019 as well as four other cities scoring the highest in the individual categories of the competition and therefore recognised with European Smart Tourism Awards 2019 received their awards at the European Tourism Day in Brussels on 7 November 2018.
Smart tourism responds to new challenges and demands in a fast-changing sector, including the expectation of digital information, products and services; equal opportunities and access for all visitors; sustainable development of the local area; and support to creative industries and local talent.
SOURCE European Capital of Smart Tourism

Filed Under: Travel Guide

Footer

Recent Posts

  • THE ROYAL SONESTA BRAND IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FRANCHISING
  • What Labor Day Travel Data Tells Us About the State of Travel
  • Travel is a mess all over the world
  • World’s most livable cities
  • Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours Announces Athens Tour Routes
  • Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours Offers Tours of London Landmarks
  • Why do people love cruises?
  • Spain experiencing a heat wave
  • What was it like to be on a cruise ship as Covid-19 was all the rage?
  • Summer is Here: The Raft of the Medusa

Travel Market

A&K Travel Group Ltd. Acquires Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony
Travel Insurance: Is It Actually Worth Buying?
Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line’s Newest and Most Innovative Ship, Departs On Maiden Voyage From Port Canaveral This Afternoon
Inspirato, the Innovative Luxury Travel Subscription Brand, Closes Transaction to Become Publicly Traded
IBM Consumer Study Points to Potential Recovery of Retail and Travel Industries, as Consumers Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine
Why Are Cruises So Popular?
How can EU funding help your tourism business become more sustainable and digital?
Bretagne, France
‘A New Day Has Dawned’ As Celebrity Edge Becomes First Cruise Ship To Sail From A U.S. Port In 15 Months
Skymark Airlines Announces Intent to Acquire Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes

Media Partners

  • Travel Marketing
  • Virtual Travel Guide
How online travel platforms help to distribute tourism away from oversaturated hotspots
First-of-its-Kind New Rides to Open in Every SeaWorld Park in 2023 Including the World’s First Surf Coaster, the Longest and Fastest Straddle Coaster, and the World’s First Launched Flume Coaster
ITALIAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2023: EVENTS AND PROJECTS INSPIRED BY THE VISION OF “CULTURE AS A CURE” GET UNDERWAY
Costa Toscana on the Middle East Cruise
Asia is home to the highest percentage of people who said they’ll “never travel” again
Discovering the Hidden Gems of Iceland: A Guide to Off-the-Beat Tourist Spots
Austin’s oldest green space, Pease Park, gets a climate-conscious makeover
Things to do in Madrid
Small Cruise Ship M/V Clio Arrives to Haifa
Royal Caribbean Group Announces Strategic Agreement with Meyer Turku Oy, Finnish Government
UK’s best ancient sites
Labyrinth pavement at Chartres Cathedral, France
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux
Famous Key Marco Cat on exhibit at Marco Island Historical Museum through 2026
Harbour House, Bristol
Restaurant MOTA in Nykøbing Sjælland
Best view of Melbourne? Ferguson Pier in Williamstown
Piles of lost bags in London, Paris and Toronto
Unique collection of classical statues is on display in Milan
Five Top Tips for Safe Travel This Summer From International SOS

Copyright © 2013 TravelMagazine.org

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT