Smart Tourism Destination methodology
A CORUÑA BEGINS WORK ON ITS ASSESSMENT AS A SMART TOURISM DESTINATION
A Coruña City Council is commencing work on the Smart Tourist Destination assessment process, which the municipality will undergo with the support of SEGITTUR, the State Society for the Management of Innovation and Tourism Technologies, under the Secretary of State for Tourism.
The DTI project forms part of A Coruña's Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD). A Smart Tourist Destination is defined as an innovative tourist destination, underpinned by cutting-edge technological infrastructure, which guarantees the sustainable development of the tourist area, accessible to all, facilitating visitors' interaction and integration with the environment, enhancing the quality of their experience at the destination and improving residents' quality of life.
The DTI methodology, promoted by the Secretary of State for Tourism and the Smart Cities Network through the public company Segittur, is structured around a diagnostic methodology, based on 97 requirements and 261 indicators, which leads to a system of recommendations and a monitoring system.
These form the fundamental elements of the model, enabling a process of continuous improvement in destination management adapted to the present and future challenges of tourism.
Destinations that achieve a compliance rate of 80% or higher with the requirements set out in the DTI methodology are awarded the Smart Tourist Destination designation. At national level, the following destinations have achieved this: Barcelona, Bilbao, Benidorm, Donostia/San Sebastián, Guara Somontano, Gijón, Lloret de Mar, Málaga, Santander, Valencia and Vitoria.
The remaining 200-plus destinations that have undergone a DTI assessment have been awarded the 'Smart Tourism Destination - Member' designation. Regardless of their level of compliance, all destinations are part of a process of continuous improvement, which involves renewing the designation every two years to ensure the ongoing implementation of the DTI management model.
A Coruña frames this initiative as part of the development of the "Strategic Tourism Plan", which is funded through the Tourism Sustainability Plan.
The recommendations arising from this assessment, to be carried out by Segittur, will be incorporated and will form a key part of the drafting and formulation of A Coruña's Strategic Plan for the coming years.
Committing to a development model based on the Smart Tourist Destinations methodology will bring a host of benefits for all stakeholders within A Coruña's tourism sector: the destination management organisation, the entire business community and, by extension, the local community and tourists themselves. Key benefits include:
- Leadership in the transformation of the destination, with a powerful demonstration effect.
- Creation of synergies and efficient use of resources.
- Improvement of the cooperative culture and local tourism policy to enhance the governance of the destination.
- Enhanced positioning of the municipality thanks to the development of a pioneering project on a global scale.
- Fostering of an innovative culture within both the administration and the local business community.
- Increased competitiveness in the tourism sector.
- Improvement of the overall tourist experience.
The DTI model developed by Spain is a benchmark at both national and international level, recognised as a best practice by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Furthermore, the DTI initiative forms part of the 2019 Spanish Urban Agenda.
