Quick Report: Digital Transformation in Intelligent Tourist Destinations
Table of Contents
Tourism is one of Spain’s most important economic engines, representing approximately 13% of the country’s national GDP. However, the sector faces growing challenges such as tourist overcrowding, seasonality, environmental sustainability, and accessibility.
Digitization and technological innovation are key to addressing these challenges. In this context, Intelligent Tourist Destinations (DTIs) emerge, a new form of management based on data, digital platforms, and advanced tools such as IoT sensing, digital twins, and data spaces.
How can technology transform tourism?
The new Whitepaper on Digital Transformation in Intelligent Tourist Destinations 2025 explores innovative solutions for destinations to optimize resources and improve the tourist experience.
The tourism sector is full of acronyms and technical terms that can be confusing. In this whitepaper on tourism and digitization, we break down each key concept so that any municipal technician can understand how to take advantage of these initiatives.
Funds and Strategies for DTIs
Tourist destinations in Spain have access to European Next Generation EU funds through initiatives such as the Sustainable Tourism Strategy in Destinations (ESTD) and the Sustainable Tourism Plan in Destinations (PSTD). These funds support digital transformation by developing intelligent platforms, advanced analytics tools, and data-driven governance models.
SEGITTUR has developed the Intelligent Tourist Destination model based on five pillars:
- Governance
- Sustainability
- Innovation
- Technology
- Accessibility
Use Cases: Real applications of digitization in tourism
The tourism industry is undergoing a major digital shift, leveraging technology to enhance visitor experiences, optimize resource management, and drive sustainable growth. This report explores real-world applications of digital transformation in tourism, showcasing innovative use cases that are shaping the future of intelligent destinations.
- Measurement of the economic impact of tourism at the local level
- Smart beach management
Capacity control in festivals and events - Monitoring of air quality in tourist cities
- Wine, cultural and health tourism
- Optimization of mobility and tourist transport
- …and more
Through the use case of Smart Beach Management, we can see how the stages are defined from which work packages and aid are developed.
How does Libelium help in the digital transformation of tourism?
Libelium is a benchmark in the sector, offering technological solutions that allow tourist destinations to become advanced DTIs. Its methodology is based on five phases:
1️⃣ Real-time data capture with IoT sensors to monitor influx, air quality, noise, and more.
2️⃣ Definition of strategic KPIs for efficient data-driven management.
3️⃣ Integration of multiple data sources to obtain a complete destination vision.
4️⃣ Create digital twins that allow for the prediction and optimization of resource management.
5️⃣ Visualization and generation of reports with interactive dashboards for decision-making.
Libelium success stories in tourism
Better than words are facts, and we show some examples of how Libelium’s technological solutions have already boosted different destinations and companies on their path towards sustainable tourism:
Who is this whitepaper for?
If you work on the digitization of an Intelligent Tourist Destination (DTI) and are looking to:
✔️ Access subsidies and innovation programs.
✔️ Implement technological solutions to improve the sustainability and management of your municipality.
✔️ Understand the opportunities offered by the Spanish regulatory framework in digital tourism.
Then, this whitepaper is your essential guide.
Index & Summary
The Challenge of Tourism in Spain
Tourism accounts for approximately 13% of Spain’s GDP, making it a critical economic sector. However, it faces issues such as overcrowding, seasonality, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. Digitalization is presented as a key tool to address these challenges, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity in tourism.Funds, Platforms, and Key Stakeholders
The European Next Generation-EU funds play a crucial role in financing tourism sustainability projects. SEGITTUR’s Intelligent Tourist Destinations (DTI) model provides a framework based on governance, sustainability, innovation, technology, and accessibility. Additionally, digital platforms like the Destination Intelligence Platform (PID) and Open Innovation Platform (PIA) facilitate integration and development.Use Cases: Real Applications of Digitalization in Tourism
A range of use cases demonstrate how IoT, big data, and AI are applied to improve tourism management. These include economic impact measurement, customer journey tracking, beach management, accessibility, and sustainability-focused tourism. Each case is analyzed to provide scalable solutions for various destinations.How to Solve These Challenges?
The digital transformation process follows structured phases:Diagnosis: Real-time data collection using IoT.
Indicators: Definition of key performance metrics.
Data Inventory: Integration of IoT, third-party data, and digital platforms.
Analytics: Development of digital twins for predictive management.
Evaluation & Visualization: Dashboards and reports for informed decision-making.Glossary
A comprehensive list of key terms related to digital tourism transformation, including concepts like Smart Cities, Digital Twins, Sustainable Tourism, and Data Interoperability.
🇪🇸 Digital Transformation in Intelligent Tourist Destinations
If you want to know in detail how technology can turn your destination into a benchmark for intelligent tourism, download the Whitepaper on Digital Transformation in Intelligent Tourist Destinations 2025.
📌 Please note: The report is available in Spanish.
Behind the Change.
Beyond the Challenge.
