In total, 29 cities from across 13 countries competed for The European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative that recognizes outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories.
These four categories are sustainability, accessibility, digitalization as well as cultural heritage, and creativity.
This EU initiative aims to promote smart tourism in the EU, network and strengthen destinations, and facilitate the exchange of best practices.
Pafos (Cyprus) and Seville (Spain) have been selected as the winners of the EU’s 2023 European Capital of Smart Tourism competition, following a European Jury meeting in Brussels on 9 November 2022.
Pafos and Seville impressed the European Jury not only with their remarkable achievements across all four categories of the competition, but also with the outstanding programmes of activities they intend to execute during 2023. They also stood out for their capacity to act as role models for other cities.
The two European Capitals of Smart Tourism will receive a purpose-built sculpture for their city centres, which will be displayed prominently for the duration of their year as a European Capital of Smart Tourism.
Furthermore, the winning cities will receive promotional support and become a part of the growing network of smart tourism cities in Europe. The network is facilitating knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices, via a series of workshops and publication of a best practices guide. The European Capitals of Smart Tourism will become part of the post-COVID recovery of the European tourism industry that includes the support of innovative tourism measures and they are set to become role models for digital, accessible, sustainable and creative tourism in Europe and beyond.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative that aims to promote smart tourism in the EU by rewarding cities for their pioneering smart tourism approaches in accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability, and cultural heritage and creativity. Built on the successful experience of a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament, the initiative seeks to foster innovative, sustainable, and inclusive tourism development, as well as spread and facilitate the exchange of best practices.
