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• The pearl of Gaziantep
  was once a riverside fortress on the Euphrates, today the fortress sits on the side of a small lake this is due to the dam that was built on the river. It is of great importance and displays the city’s cultural heritage. As one of its most important projects, the glass terrace that is still under construction will serve the nature and cultural heritage of Rumkale in the most valuable way. Additionally, the glass terrace project is about to become Turkey’s largest and most prestigious project after its completion in 2021 and will bring a new energy to Gaziantep’s tourism and dynamism-loving tourists. Getting to Rumkale, the natural wonder of Gaziantep, is very easy. Excursions and transportation are provided in addition to boats within the Rumkale castle.Find out more at: https://www.alaturkaturkey.com/destinations/rumkale.html
• The Alba Carolina Citadel in Alba Iulia
  is the largest fortress in Romania, which has been standing for more than 300 years, however, it harbours vestiges of three fortifications, dating back to as many different epochs, as every fortress built here has embraced a previous one: the Roman castrum, the medieval fortress and the Alba Carolina Citadel. This fortress has seen spectacular transformations in recent years, becoming more and more visible on Europe’s tourist map. The restoration works (co-financed by European funds) have also considered to valorise its exceptional cultural heritage. Now the citadel is an open-air stage for cultural festivals and concerts held by famous orchestra top Romanian and foreign artists. Additionally, the municipality has developed promotion and marketing tools based on new technologies: digital campaigns to promote innovative tourism offers, physical and digital maps of the Citadel, virtual guides in Principia Museum, VR tours in the Citadel, among others. Find out more at: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/romania/rehabilitation-of-alba-iulias-urban-heritage-transforms-the-city-and-its-economy
• The ‘Bordeaux nous envoie balader’
  initiative began with two objectives: support tour guides who were heavily impacted by the pandemic and spark local interest in the city’s heritage, all at a reduced price. 1000 free tours were given in the first year and 1200 at a reduced price in the programme’s second year. The rich and surprising programme (30 different themes proposed) has debunked the dusty old image of classic guided tours and shown the creativity of tour guides, attracting a new audience, notably a young audience who may previously have been less intrested . Find out more at: https://www.visiter-bordeaux.com/en/taxonomy/term/98
• Smart meters which signal waste
  resulting in the outdoor space remaining tidy and hospitable, street lighting which is only lit in places where people are present, or smart parking systems, so visitors don’t need to trawl through the entire city looking for a parking space. A tool which makes all these applications possible is the Digital Twin City project, for which a full 3D model of the city has been made, brimming with open data which is accessible to everyone. By making this data more accessible to all, the city has become an open and innovative space in which private enterprises can become involved in shaping the city more effectively.Find out more at: https://smart-cities-marketplace.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/2019/rotterdams-digital-twin-redefines-our-physical-digital-social-worlds
• As part of the celebration of Dante Alighieri’s 700th death anniversary
  the city of Ravenna has installed a light art installation called La Luce delle Parole (Words of Light). This art installation has enlightened six streets of the city centre with fifteen verses from the Divine Comedy, outlining a bright path along the city’s porticoes and buildings. The installation delivers a message of hope, wishing that we will soon “see-once more-the stars” (from Dante’s Inferno XXXIV, 139). By scanning a QR using your mobile phone you can walk through this poetic atmosphere while listening to the original lines which are located under each initialisation. Find out more at: https://www.turismo.ra.it/en/events/other-events/la-luce-delle-parole-2/
• Look for the “Tomis” tablets around the city
  Categorized as “street furniture” with a stylish and innovative design, the “Tomis” are “giant tablets” in public spaces and provide locals and visitors with all necessary information. These devices are installed in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira and operate 24 hours a day. “Tomis” respond to the immediate needs of dwelling business and provide information about the area’s attractions and offers. These interactive panels of information are a cultural information source as they deliver culinary, heritage and effective assistance with unlimited features and constant updates. The tablets/displays allow a reliable, tailored and personalised experience to all those who ask and look for something different in the city – including where to find the world’s best fish.Find out more at: https://www.leca-palmeira.com/tomis-torna-turismo-em-matosinhos/ and https://www.matosinhoswbf.pt/pages/356
• Bus stops turned into info points
  ‘Explore Porto’ has enabled public transport to become interactive for residents and visitors to the city of Porto. By installing NFC and QR code technology in the form of beacons at bus stops, visitors can access information on points of interest and routes at various bus stops through the city. In doing so, the city is actively integrating bus stops into the tourism experience and encouraging visitors to become users of digital innovation. Find out more at: https://explore.porto.pt
• A ‘Virtual Clerk’ to help you out
  In 2015, Gdynia has become the first Polish city to introduce solutions enabling convenient and friendly contact with customers via Virtual Clerk. It is fully designed and implemented by the staff of the Gdynia City Hall and works based on an artificial intelligence mechanism that understands the question and immediately finds an answer or forwards it to the place where the answer is to be found. The Virtual Clerk is well adapted to the needs of the residents and the city by offering residents multi-channel communication and by including everyone. The accessibility of the virtual clerk also encourages people with restrictions to use this intelligent communication tool.Find out more at: https://innovationinpolitics.eu/showroom/project/residents-account-gdynia-e-services-centre/
• A webzine that promotes local tourism
  The webzine ‘Un air de Bordeaux’ highlights the actors, events and places that make up Bordeaux’s natural and cultural wealth and emphasises the strong sense of local identity. Designed by and for the residents, the webzine is also appreciated by visitors who are looking to step away from the beaten trail. It is full of ideas for local, responsible weekend trips and encourages the reader to leave their comfort zone to make local tourism interesting and desirable. Launched in 2017, it has become a local brand, with more than 400 articles published, 30,000 visitors per month and a weekly newsletter sent to 15,000 subscribers. Find out more at: https://www.unairdebordeaux.fr
• Audio city guide ‘Nexto app’
  The Nexto app is an innovative smart audio city guide that enhances the tourist experience. The app actively engages its users through features like puzzles, riddles and item collection by mobile scanning. With the help of AR, it creates engaging game-like learning experiences and contains interactive maps. It gives added value to sightseeing and uses location-aware technology for activating audio guidance.Find out more at: https://www.museum.de/videos-detail/o3buhu8isv0 and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.nexto&hl=de&gl=US
• Braga:
  In the context of the “Braga Digital” initiative, the municipality defined a specific programme for supporting the creation of new infrastructures in the museums (physical and virtual). Particular attention is devoted to the historic-cultural contents by means of virtual reconstructions, simulations, animations, as well as the publication of real images from each site. The initiative covers the following museums: the Image Museum, the “Escola da se” archaeological site, the “Alto da Cividade” archaeological site, the Idol fountain archaeological site. The Dom Diogo de Sousa and Biscainhos museums will be featured on a dedicated web portal, presenting relevant information for visitors, who want to prepare their visit or go deeper into the information about the museum’s contents.Find out more at: https://ccg.pt/my-product/braga-digital/?lang=enIzmir: The sanalmuze.gov.tr website has made it possible for interested visitors to virtually access cultural and art activities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing difficulties to experience museums in-person, digital innovations on culture and art now allow locals and tourists to partake in virtual tours in the city’s museums. People can have a 360-degree virtual tour of the entire museums and click around to get information about historical background information. Find out more at: www.sanalmuze.gov.tr
• ‘Sustainable urban innovation
  With the aim of creating sustainable solutions, ‘Smart Aarhus’ is an initiative developed in order to create sustainable urban innovation and growth; a model based on involving stakeholders through partnerships. The city is a pioneer of smart city technologies such as using cutting-edge sensor technology to tackle peak traffic and reduce fuel consumption. The experiments and the ‘Smart City’-solutions are carried out by the Aarhus City Lab, which connects citizens behaviour with digital measurements, and by using data it makes the city more citizen-friendly. The primary focuses are mobility, parking, waste, digital art & culture, events, exhibitions, interactive installations, incentives for exercise and much more. This innovative approach earned the municipality of Aarhus a prize of 10.000 EUR in 2018 as ‘Runner-up’ at The European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) Awards, an annual European Union recognition prize awarded to the European cities that best promote innovation.More about “Smart Aarhus” at: https://smartaarhuseu.aarhus.dk/about-smart-aarhus/
• Traffic monitoring and management
  The city of Marbella has facilitated E-surveillance and application of ICT for traffic monitoring and management. Marbella has an information platform that provides real-time information on different resources, to which citizens and companies have free access to certain layers of information. This is the Territorial Information System of Marbella (SITMA).Find out more at: http://sit.marbella.es/VISOR_SITMA/
• The Tourist Information Centre in Ljubljana
  has adopted the Alipay payment option. It is a popular digital payment method in China and its introduction aims to raise the profile of Ljubljana as a destination adaptable to visitor’s needs. It makes it easier for locals as well as visitors from China to pay in a more convenient for them way. Find out more at: https://www.ljubljana.si/en/news/tic-and-stic-as-the-first-payment-points-for-the-alipay-app-in-slovenia/
• Electric marine transport
  This initiative of establishing public electric maritime transport on the territory of the city of Dubrovnik will enable the coastal communication and dispersion of passengers by sea, as well as unburdening of land roads and bottlenecks in both directions (east and west), and partly the inbound and outbound city traffic. This will enable the creation of integrated multimodal links and ensure sustainable local mobility while increasing capacity and the use of public transport.Find out more at: https://econautinet.adrioninterreg.eu/news/the-electrification-of-maritime-transport-in-the-adrion-region
• A destination that strikes a balance
  Bordeaux aims to maintain a balance, such as the equilibrium found between the city’s urbanised zones and natural spaces. This balance, sustained through the promotional activities of the Bordeaux Convention Bureau (BCB), avoids a bottleneck effect in terms of in-season tourist presence. Business travellers mainly come to Bordeaux in June, November and March (according to 2015-2018 statistics). Natural pathways are central to the city’s tourism strategy, with the inauguration of the first ‘Metropolitain GR’ (Grande Randonnée) in France (160 km, 17 cities), in addition to the many footpaths and cycle routes that already exist around Bordeaux. Find out more at: https://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/nature/leisure/long-hiking-trail-accessible-tram
• Zero waste shopping policy by ‘Zelena Japka’
  Zelena Japka (Green Japka) store is the first store without plastic packaging and a zero-waste store in Maribor. Opened in 2019, it is the first store operating under the brand Kupujem odgovorno which raises consumer awareness and encourages them to make socially responsible purchases. Zelena Japka offers a range of carefully selected products that are friendly to humans, animals and nature. In addition to being free of plastic packaging, the products and raw materials are distinguished by the fact that they are organic, produced on the principle of fair trade, are free of palm oil, do not contain animal products and are not tested on animals. Find out more at:: https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/discover/maribor-green-destination/ and https://www.visitmaribor.si/si/informacije/druge-informacije/10101-
• Developing the city through the eyes of tourists & citizens
  Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest student city: their energy, wealth of ideas and contribution to the community, make Copenhagen a vibrant and lively and the students are invited to contribute to development of the city. In March 2021, the City of Copenhagen, the University of Copenhagen’s sustainability lab and Wonderful Copenhagen hosted the Copenhagen Sustainability Challenge. In the 24-hour case-challenge, students from 19 different nationalities and 10 universities came together to solve challenges concerning the development of sustainable tourism in Copenhagen and the Greater Copenhagen area with a special emphasis on green tourism mobility and sustainable behaviour. The results of the case- challenge presented a variety of exiting ideas concerning the development of sustainable tourism, that the city of Copenhagen will consider going forward.Find out more at: https://ie.ku.dk/nyheder/2021/students-solve-sustainability-issues-together/
• Green Corridor Reforestation
  To mitigate and adapt to climate change by reducing CO2 emissions and their effects, Palma has instigated a campaign to reforest their urban landscape and has installed prominent signage containing live, real time updated information with how many trees have been planted to date. Together with the Green Corridor project, the city aims to help the recovery of green areas in the urban city centre as well as help combat the effects of climate change namely rising temperatures by offering a natural cooling of the city through the regeneration of the trees in Palma. Find out more at: https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2016/12/27/46432/green-corridor-for-temperature-reduction-planned-for-palma.html
• Green labels for the city – Old Vine House
  The Maribor Tourist Board in cooperation with local partners decided to apply Maribor as the green destination of Slovenia and has come up with a detailed action plan with laid-out environmental goals. One of the institutions implementing the action plan and serving as a green label example is the Old Vine House that in 2020 was awarded the Green Key ecolabel by the National office in Slovenia. For obtaining the certificate, the provider must meet 13 criteria of evaluation, ranging from environmental management, guest information, waste and water management, energy efficiency to staff engagement and other criteria. In 2021, the Old Vine House was also awarded the Slovenia Green Attraction logo.Find out more at: https://kongres-magazine.eu/2020/10/old-vine-house-maribor-awarded-the-green-key-eco-label-certificate/and https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/what-to-do/wine-and-culinary/old-vine-house/
• How taxation can lower the carbon footprint of tourism
  In order to incorporate the tourism sector and its effect on climate change the city of Palma as part of the Balearic Islands has begun enforcing a “sustainable tourism tax” on its visitors. The tax is the used to protect and preserve the Islands natural resources as well as invest in scientific research, training, and employment, especially in Palam. By including the visitor in the solution of the carbon footprint generated by the tourism sector is an inclusive way of sharing the responsibility of helping nature in a tourist destination. Find out more at: http://www.ecotasa.es
• Majolika factory mugs and Refill program for more climate friendliness
  The Majolika manufactory is supporting the city in reducing waste of material like disposable coffee cups by designing trendy porcelain vessels or mugs – at the same time the products are supposed to shine as iconic objects of identification or souvenirs. Karlsruhe’s drinking water – whether from wells or from the tap in hotels - has also been made available in a 100% climate-neutral way since 2018. More than 50 volunteer retailers also participate in the Refill program by offering visitors free refills of drinking vessels they bring with them with tap water. Find out more at: https://majolika-karlsruhe.de/en/
• Repurposing riverbeds into new urban spaces for residence and tourists
  The city of València has a strong proven track record of integrating sustainable urban planning. The Turia Gardens offer some examples of the city of València strengthening their ecological ties to the natural resources and the integration of old natural structures into their urban planning. The old Turia Gardens is one of the largest urban parks in Spain spanning 9km of green footpaths, leisure and sports areas as well as paths suitable for cyclists. Built on the old riverbed of the river Turia which was diverted to prevent flooding, the Turia Gardens offer a prime example of integrating natural resources into the urban planning of a city. By doing so the city has created a sustainable alternative and green areas for local flora to grow and provide shade as well as open, green leisure areas for the residents and visitors alike.Find out more at: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/nature-in-valencia/parks-and-gardens-valencia/turia-gardens
• SEADRION PROJECT
  Emissions related to energy used for heating and cooling of buildings can be significantly reduced with technologies which use renewable energy sources and have high efficiency. Taking this into consideration, the SEADRION project aims to support the development of a regional innovation system for the Adriatic-Ionian area with the installation of 3 renewable energy facilities in the public buildings located in Greece and western and south part of Adriatic Croatia, one of them in Dubrovnik. This project pursues fostering diffusion of heating & cooling technologies using the seawater pump in the Adriatic-Ionian Region. As part of DURA’s project “Seadrion” co-financed by the European Program for International Cooperation, Interreg ADRION 2014-2020, the existing technical heating and cooling system in the Rector’s Palace was replaced.Find out more at: https://seadrion.adrioninterreg.eu/?fbclid=IwAR3Ui6N7JbIsrmUTKi2Y6UtnzQMZ4uCCPKI5oq0iH8Bq7DSA973iL6Rj7jE
• ‘Art Kamp’ festival as an example of Zero Waste Events
  The family festival Art Kamp takes place every summer in the Maribor City Park. Since 2017, the organizers of the festival are committed to a vision: a festival without waste that is achieved with the help of the national Zero waste organization for Slovenia - Ecologists without Borders. In 2019, the organizers managed to collect 93 percent of waste separately and at the same time halve the total amount. Thanks to the implemented measures, the Art Kamp has become one of the two Slovenian “zero waste” events, which are considered an example of good practice both at home and abroad. It is also planned that other events will also join the zero-waste events initiative, such as the Ceremonial Harvest of the World’s Oldest Vine and St. Martin’s Day in Maribor. Find out more at: https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/discover/maribor-green-destination/ and https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/what-to-do/events-and-shows/calendar-of-events/5951-