European Commission Launches Smart Tourism Competitions for 2025
The European Commission recently launched the 2025 edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions.
Tourism destinations across Europe are invited to submit their innovative practices of smart and sustainable tourism to become leading examples in European tourism.
According to the Commission, as the EU’s third largest eco-system, tourism plays a crucial role in economic growth and job creation.
The Smart Tourism initiative recognises cities implementing new digital tools and practices such as equal opportunity and access to visitors, sustainable development and support to creative industries and local talent.
With the competitions, the European Commission promotes and awards the future of smart and sustainable tourism in Europe.
To compete for the 2025 titles, cities are asked to demonstrate their innovative tourism practices and submit their applications using an online form. Applications will first be evaluated by a panel of independent experts.
In the second step, shortlisted cities will be asked to present their city’s candidature in front of the European Jury. The European Jury will select two winners, the “European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025” and the “European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025”, which will be announced in November 2024.
Both competitions are open to cities across both the EU, as well as the non-EU countries that take part in the Single Market Programme (SMP)[1] – former COSME Programme.
European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025
The 2025 European Capital of Smart Tourism is the sixth edition of the competition. Dublin was selected as the 2024 Smart Capital.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025 will benefit from communication and branding support throughout 2025 which will tell the story of the outstanding smart and innovative practices that made it stand out and win. This will include the production of a promotional video, a large hashtag sculpture to install in a prominent location, diverse promotional activities and visibility at EU level and internationally.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition is open to cities with a population of over 100,000.
To join the competition press here.
European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025
The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism is the successor of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) competition which was first introduced by the European Commission in 2007 to reward non-traditional, emerging sustainable tourism destinations in Europe.
The competition is founded upon the principle of promoting the development of sustainable tourism in smaller destinations which brings value to the economy, the planet, and the people. Being the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025 will allow the winning city to serve as an inspiration to other tourism destinations across Europe, enhance their city’s profile as a quality travel destination, attracting visitors and generating economic growth in a sustainable way.
The Green Pioneer competition is open to cities with a population between 25.000 – 100,000.
To submit an application, press here.
For both competitions, applications must be received by May 31 at 17:00 CET.