A popular Irish city recently earned the honour of being named the European Capital of Smart Tourism.
Ireland’s capital city of Dublin had much to celebrate recently as it was named the winner of the Smart Tourism Capital Award designation for 2024.
The announcement that Dublin City won the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024 was made by the European Commission in Brussels.
This achievement is a clear reflection of all the positive moves Dublin has made in recent years.
Dublin – European Capital of Smart Tourism
The announcement that Dublin had been named the European Capital of Smart Tourism was made by the European Commission in Brussels.
The judges recognised that Dublin had successfully “embedded best Smart Tourism practices from across Europe through its collaborations with other cities and the publication of its first five-year tourism strategy with a strong focus on innovation”.
Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, shared his delight that Dublin had won the award.
He discussed how the win is a clear reflection of Dublin’s commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and more for locals and visitors alike.
“Our Smart Tourism programme, which was established in 2019, has been sharing, collaborating, and learning from some of the best cities in Europe and embedding this best practice in our own work through our new Tourism Strategy 2023-2023.
“We will proudly use this designation as a platform to deliver an innovative approach to tourism for Dublin”, he said.
Smart tourism – an essential component of any modern smart city
Tourism is an important area of economic growth for communities worldwide. As such, smart tourism is an important element to focus on for any modern smart city.
The European Union defines smart tourism as facilitating and accessing tourism and hospitality products, spaces, services and experiences through ICT-based (Information and communications technology) tools.
Experiences such as EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and digital innovations like the Dublin Discovery Trails App are key reasons why Dublin was victorious over its competition.
The Smart Tourism Capital Award – deserving of recognition
When reflecting on the many reasons why Dublin has become this year’s European Capital of Smart Tourism, the European Commission judging panel highlight Dublin’s history, culture, and creativity.
“Now hailed for its commitment to sustainability and a strategic smart tourism vision, and outstanding achievements, it has impressed the jury.
Over the past year, this city has actively engaged people in decision-making, creating a destination that resonates with its people and embraces innovation at the same time.
“The city’s networking efforts with previous winners reflect a dedication to collaboration, leadership and innovation, and a beating European heart,” the panel explained.
