Gothenburg aspires to stay on top of digital trends
Both citizens and visitors are able to benefit from this approach as the city aspires, in all its digital initiatives, to achieve equal access for all, affordable technology, effective long-term planning and the promotion of public-private partnerships. This has paved the way for abundant 4G coverage, smart grids for traffic and electricity, accessible and open government data, future-oriented public transport systems, optimised for all citizens and dedicated environmental protection platforms.
Open on all channels
City authorities, in collaboration with local tourism industry stakeholders, make use of all digital channels to enhance the visitor experience. This entails making material available through the most popular booking platforms, as well as on social media, with the support of influencers. Additionally, the city’s website is a one-stop-shop for everything visitors need to know about the city – and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, there’s a chat function which connects users with the visitor centre.
A sustainability pioneer
Gothenburg has also implemented far-reaching measures, to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the city. The city was a pioneer in issuing green bonds and was one of the first places to set consumption-based emission targets. 92% of the city’s hotels and 100% of meeting facilities are now environmentally certified and events taking place in the city benefit from the “Event Impact Calculator”, a tool that has come as a result of local tech and science partnerships that forecasts potential environmental impacts and supports organisers to value events from an economic, social and environmental point of view. It is down to these initiatives that, for the past three years, Gothenburg has been named the world’s most sustainable destination, by the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
For more details, visit: www.goteborgco.se/en/ and www.goteborg.com
300 seconds with Katarina Thorstensson | European Capital of Smart Tourism Sustainability Strategist | City of Göteborg, Sweden
SMART city: Göteborg, Sweden
Göteborg stands out for its digital offering which is helping improve experiences for both citizens and tourists. This includes future-oriented solutions for traffic and transport, open data, as well as sustainability measures. The water-side city works together with a wide variety of stakeholders and sectors to implement a truly integrated approach to smart tourism. The city’s long-term commitment to cooperate at EU level to tackle the common challenges faced by tourism destinations are making Göteborg a true role model and inspiration for others.
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Gothenburg the world’s Best Sustainable City Stay
Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, has added another sustainability award to its list of accolades. Lonely Planet unveiled its Best in Travel 2021 naming Gothenburg the world’s Best Sustainable City Stay. The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI) has previously ranked Gothenburg as the world’s most sustainable destination for the last four years. “Once again, Gothenburg has demonstrated that we are a world-leading destination in terms of sustainability,” said Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co. Find out more news about Gothenburg here: https://smarttourismcapital.eu/city/gothenburg/
Smart Tourism conference in Gothenburg
On 20 November, Gothenburg – 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism – hosted a virtual conference for the cities that were shortlisted in both the 2019 and 2020 competitions. Representatives from the cities and the European Commission had the opportunity to discuss “How a Smart Tourism strategy can support the visiting industry going forward” and share best practices. Examples of smart tourism initiatives can be found in the updated Compendium of Best Practices. You may watch the conference here.
Gothenburg launches website for a more sustainable tourism
Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, has launched a new website: www.101sustainableideas.com aimed at gathering innovative and sustainable ideas to improve the tourism experience in cities around the world. Anyone can suggest an idea or initiative and the plan is for the list to grow and become a source of inspiration and knowledge. “Being the European Capital of Smart Tourism is about sharing your own work with other destinations, but also to highlight and inspire by giving examples of successful initiatives leading to a change”, said Helena Lindqvist, Project Manager European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020.
Gothenburg holds virtual conference with Smart EU Destinations
Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, is hosting a virtual conference, on 20 November 2020, for the cities that were shortlisted in both the 2019 and 2020 competitions. Representatives from the cities and the European Commission will discuss “How a Smart Tourism strategy can support the visiting industry going forward”.
Gothenburg discusses the future of smart tourism at GreenCities event
Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, hosted the GreenCities event, a Forum on Urban Intelligence and Sustainability on 1 October 2020. Rosa Sánchez, Deputy Mayor Delegate for Tourism of the City Council of Málaga, Katarina Torstensson, Sustainability Strategist representing Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, and Victoire Goust, Deputy Mayor of Lyon, the 2019 European Capital of Smart Tourism, participated in a roundtable discussion on “Smart Tourist Destinations: how to address it after COVID19”. The discussion focused on the recovery of tourism after the global health crisis and the measures that will help cities become sustainable, smart and safe tourist destinations. More information about the GreenCities can be found here.
Gothenburg and Málaga join forces and represent good practices
Canal Málaga, the most important local TV station in Málaga, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism produced a TV show dedicated to the EU initiative and in specific how tourism destinations can grow in a sustainable way. The TV show highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the city of Málaga, while it also included an interview with Peter Gröneberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co, representing Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism. Watch the TV show here.
Infographic: Gothenburg, 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism
What makes Gothenburg a smart tourism destination? Find out some interesting facts and figures about the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism.
Digital think-thank focuses on digitalisation in the tourism industry
In June, Gothenburg, the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism, hosted a digital “Think Tank” event. Taking part were representatives from the tourism industry in West Sweden and the IT industry. The Think Tank focused on how digitalisation and new technology can contribute to the development of the tourism industry and how to go about returning to the “new normal” environment, when the COVID-19 crisis ends. Participants shared their thoughts on opportunities and challenges regarding digitalisation and the implementation of new technology. The economic association GREAT facilitated the Think Tank. This initiative is the first in a series of planned workshops during the year.
Arrival of Gothenburg´s hashtag sculpture
Gothenburg welcomed its Hashtag sculpture, awarded to celebrate the city’s success as the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism. The inauguration was led by Anneli Rhedin, the Mayor of Gothenburg, as well as Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co. The sculpture is situated at the Kungsportsplatsen, right in the middle of the city and next to the Tourist Information Centre.
Gothenburg starts the year as the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism
Representatives of the city, academia and the business community of Gothenburg gathered on 7 February 2020 for a launching event with regards to Gothenburg’s win as the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism. The aim was to bring together as many people as possible to help make this year an engine of development for the destination. “There is a real commitment here to make Gothenburg an even better city and destination. We will put this enthusiasm to good use in this project. Working closely with our stakeholders, we will go from smart to even smarter this year,” says Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co. “It is genuinely inspiring that we are continuing to develop our fantastic city sustainably together,” says Helena Wiberg of Swedavia, who was also present at the meeting.
Read more about the kick-off event here.
Gothenburg attends the FITUR Madrid 2020
The 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism, Gothenburg and Málaga, together with the 2020 European Smart Tourism Awards winners Breda, Ljubljana, Karlsruhe, as well as Gothenburg itself, were present in this year’s FITUR travel trade fair in Madrid. Representatives of the cities participated in the FITUR Know-How event “Developing Smart Tourism Destinations” on 23 January 2020. It was an interesting discussion, in which the cities explained how they each address the current challenges in the tourism sector and how they became smart tourism destinations. The public had the opportunity to learn about the European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative also at the stand – getting an insight into how the EU is supporting cities in promoting their good practices and working together on smart tourism.
See more photos from FITUR Madrid 2020 here and watch the recorded event “Developing Smart Tourism Destinations” here
Gothenburg kicks-off the year as 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism
A kick-off meeting, with the participation of Gothenburg’s representatives, European Commission tourism policy officers and the European Capital of Smart Tourism Secretariat, took place in Gothenburg, one of the 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism.
Gothenburg was represented by Katarina Torstensson, Smart Tourism & Sustainability Strategist; Helena Lindqvist, Project Manager, Gothenburg European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020; Lars Isacson, Manager Research & Development and Jonas Norrman, Smart Cities Expert.
