From a pool of 30 candidates spanning 17 countries, the selected finalists for the European Capital of Smart Tourism are in alphabetical order, Bremerhaven (Germany), Cork (Ireland), Dublin (Ireland), Genoa (Italy), Helsingborg (Sweden), and San Sebastián (Spain).
The shortlist for the 2024 finalists now comprises six destinations, instead of the initially mentioned four, due to a tie score. You can access a brief profile of each of the shortlisted cities here.
Essen (Germany), Gdynia (Poland), Odense (Denmark), Padua (Italy), and Parma (Italy) are designated as runner-up cities.
Following this stage, the finalists will be invited to present their proposals to a European Jury, tasked with selecting the 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism. The chosen city will receive extensive support in communication and branding. This includes the creation of a promotional video, installation of a hashtag sculpture for public exhibition in the city, and the implementation of tailored promotional campaigns aimed at boosting visibility at both the EU and global levels, ultimately resulting in an increase in the number of visitors.
The competition welcomed participation from cities within the European Union and non-EU countries that are eligible to the Single Market programme. An impartial panel of experts conducted a thorough evaluation of the applications, and those applicants who achieved the highest cumulative score across all categories successfully advanced.
European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024 – Smart gets you further
Starting in 2018, the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition has provided a platform to highlight exceptional practices and achievements. The winners from previous editions include Seville and Pafos (2023), València and Bordeaux (2022), Málaga and Gothenburg (2020), and Helsinki and Lyon (2019). These cities have emerged as exemplary models for smart tourism in Europe, earning prominent international rankings for sustainability, innovation, quality of life, and the effective incorporation of smart strategies.
About the initiative
The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an initiative by the EU that rewards cities for their innovative approaches in areas such as accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability, and cultural heritage and creativity. This initiative builds upon the successful experience of a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament and aims to foster sustainable and inclusive tourism development while facilitating the exchange of best practices.
Winning cities in this competition are given a platform to showcase their outstanding practices to the world. Specifically, the ´Leading Examples of Smart Tourism Practices in Europe’ report for 2023 highlights the smart tourism initiatives implemented by applicants in this competition.
Likewise, the EU Smart Tourism Podcast series features discussions involving delegates from the winners of the European Capitals of Smart Tourism competition, cities shortlisted for the award, and representatives from the EU Commission.
To stay updated with the latest developments regarding the European Capital of Smart Tourism, be sure to connect with us through the website, Facebook, or Twitter. Additionally, you can subscribe to our Podcast series on platforms like Spotify and Amazon Music.
For further press information, please contact
European Smart Tourism Secretariat
Antigoni Avgeropoulou, info@SmartTourismCapital.eu, +49 (0) 30 70 01 86 390
All Inclusive
Luksusowy kwartalnik turystyczno-podróżniczy. Od 2004 roku opisujemy miejsca, do których warto lecieć dłużej niż na weekend, i ludzi, którzy je prowadzą.
