Winners of the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019 competition
Helsinki (Finland) and Lyon (France) were jointly awarded the title of European Capitals of Smart Tourism for 2019 – an award that recognizes outstanding achievements in smart tourism planning.
Helsinki boasting 460 years of history
Helsinki is a modern city with a burgeoning smart tourism industry. In 2017, visitors to Finland’s capital reached record numbers, with in excess of 4.5 million people taking advantage of a destination that mixes high-tech and sustainable design with stunning arts and culture all in one compact and vibrant city.
Lyon is France’s capital of gastronomy
Through sustainable, cutting-edge development, Lyon has become an essential European tourist destination in barely two decades. Boasting 2,000 years of history, for which it is recognised by UNESCO, the city is long established as France’s capital of gastronomy, and lays claim to being the continent’s cradle of silk and cinema. The annual Festival of Lights, which attracts around three million visitors over four days, is another major reason why tourism has boomed, becoming a €1 billion-a-year industry.
Winners of the European Tourism 2019 in four award categories
Four cities were also recognised with 2019 European Smart Tourism Awards for their outstanding achievements in the initiative's four categories. These cities received the highest individual category scores of all 38 applicant cities, during a pre-selection phase carried out by an independent panel of experts.
