Valencia and Bordeaux - European Tourism Innovators Leading the Way 18.07.2022: The 2022 European Capitals of Smart Tourism, Bordeaux and València are at the forefront of innovative and smart tourism experiences Smart Tourism in València

The 2022 European Capitals of Smart Tourism, Bordeaux and València are at the forefront of innovative and smart tourism experiences



photo visitvalencia.com



Smart Tourism in València



An equally historic maritime city, València has cultivated a mindset of creativity and inclusion to fuel the city’s drive into a more sustainable and digital future. The result: a smart tourism experience that ensures an all-round opportunity for visitors to be amazed at what European cities can do when they do tourism the smart way.



València is the first city in the world to measure its tourism carbon footprint and is planning to be carbon neutral by 2030. This has the effect that almost everything the city does for its tourism is done in a sustainable fashion.



Beyond this, L’Albufera National Park, València is cementing its commitment to sustainable tourism by preserving and conserving this natural resource and helping to educate the public along the way. For a more digital and futuristic experience, the City of Arts and Sciences, where the Hemispheric is located, as the largest projection room in Spain promotes creativity and intelligence as something to be celebrated and advanced.



Due to increased global temperatures, València concerns itself ever increasingly with the impact this might have on the city ecology. As a result, the Turia Gardens were built on a dried-up riverbed and now provide shade in the summer and a further area for urban flora to cultivate.



At the Malvarrosa beach, València’s sustainable commitment continues with 19km of shoreline that provide an escape to the sea but also a coastline that València maintains and protects.

https://www.visitvalencia.com

The Turia Gardens & the City of Arts and Science, València








Smart Tourism in Bordeaux



The historic maritime city, nestled along the Atlantic Ocean in the Bay of Biscay is a hub of smart tourism innovation and trailblazing smart tourism experiences that combine forward thinking and an ability to look beyond the horizon.



Bordeaux offers each visitor the chance to dive into the experience of the city through a series of ambitious urban renewal projects, integrative sustainable planning, and using the knowledge of the experts of Bordeaux to fuel the information available: the residents.



Bordeaux employs the knowledge accrued by its residents to regularly update and produce the webzine “Un air de Bordeaux”. This publication offers visitors an insight into the best things to do, events that are happening, and secret tips and tricks for exploring Bordeaux. And by utilising the city’s 160 km of GR-accredited pedestrian walkways and paths any visit to the city is bound to be sustainable and adventure.



Beyond this, the city offers visitors the chance to experience true urban renewal with the Bassins à Flot district designed by urban architect Nicolas Michelin, which transformed an industrial wasteland into a flourishing economic and tourists centre for Bordeaux.



It is here that the famous wine museum La Cité du Vin can be found. An additional smart tourism experience can be found in the Darwin Ecosystem. As one of the most visited sites in Bordeaux, this former military barracks is a place of diversity and innovation, where visitors can find the largest organic restaurant in France, skateparks, an open-air gallery for graffiti artists and co-working spaces and with a commitment to helping refugees.  



 
The Darwin Ecosystem, Bordeaux




EU Smart Tourism Podcast Series
 


The European Commission has launched the “EU Smart Tourism Podcast” series to help showcase the rich and diverse world of smart tourism in Europe. The podcast is specifically designed to help the listener gain and understand of what smart tourism is and how they can benefit from smart tourism practices in their city.  
 


For each episode the European Commission invites guest speakers from a range of different cities across Europe. These cities are a part of the European Capital of Smart Tourism network either as former winners of the competition or as shortlisted destinations. The podcast features various fascinating discussions about the world of smart tourism in Europe from digitalisation to accessibility and from creative cultural heritage to sustainability.  
 

 




•    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.


•    In 2021, from amongst 30 EU cities which applies, Bordeaux and València were selected as the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2022. In 2019, amongst 35 EU cities which applied, Málaga and Gothenburg stood out and were selected as the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2020. In 2018, amongst 38 EU cities, Helsinki and Lyon stood out and were selected the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2019.  


•    The competition is open to cities in the EU Member States and COSME countries with a population of over 100,000. In countries where no city has more than 100,000 inhabitants, the largest city is eligible to apply. Please refer to the Guide for Applicants for more information.


•    The selection for the 2023 European Capitals of Smart Tourism is currently ongoing with the announcements of winners scheduled for the end of the year. 


•    The 2022 European Capitals of Smart Tourism Bordeaux and València provide a series of smart tourism experiences that they are continuing to develop and expand upon. These smart experiences can be categories under digital, sustainable, accessible, and cultural heritage and creativity. 


•    Smart Tourism Experiences in Bordeaux: Wine Festival; GR Walkways; Terra Aventura; Un air de Bordeaux; Bassins à Flot; and the Darwin Ecosystem. 


•    Smart Tourism Experiences in València: Fallas Festival; L’Albufera National Park; Hemisfèric; City of Arts and Science; Turia Gardens; Malvarrosa.


•    The EU Smart Tourism Podcast was successfully launched to help listeners gain a greater understand of and showcase insights into the world of European smart tourism. 
 




- Sebastian Strohmayer, photos European Capital of Smart Tourism