The DEPLOYTOUR – Deployment of the European Tourism Data Space project has taken a decisive step forward with the successful launch of its first High-Level Policy Event at the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in Brussels.
The event, led by the Italian Ministry of Tourism and supported by AnySolution, brought together over 120 senior policymakers, digital innovation experts, tourism industry leaders, and regional representatives to define a unified strategy for a responsible, interoperable, and scalable European Data Space for Tourism.
This landmark gathering marks a critical milestone in the European Commission’s broader digital transformation agenda, positioning tourism as a key sector for data-driven innovation, sustainability, and cross-border collaboration.
Strategic Pillars for a Future-Ready Tourism Ecosystem
The event centered on four core strategic pillars essential for the successful deployment of the European Tourism Data Space:
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Data Interoperability
Ensuring seamless, secure, and standardized data exchange across national systems, platforms, and stakeholders — from local tourism boards to EU-level databases. -
Ethical and Transparent Data Use
Establishing a governance framework grounded in privacy-by-design, informed consent, and accountability — crucial for building trust among citizens, businesses, and institutions. -
National Uptake and Implementation
Accelerating the adoption of DEPLOYTOUR’s tools, standards, and best practices at the national level, ensuring that innovation translates into tangible benefits for local economies and destinations. -
Synergy Across EU Initiatives
Strengthening alignment with key European programmes such as Digital Europe, Horizon Europe, the European Green Deal, and the EU Digital Single Market, to avoid fragmentation and maximize impact.
The event emphasized the importance of building a robust, interoperable, and ethically governed data ecosystem for tourism across Europe. Discussions highlighted the need for stronger coordination between national authorities, regional stakeholders, and EU initiatives to ensure that project outcomes are effectively implemented at the national level. Key priorities included advancing data interoperability, establishing clear principles for ethical data use, and fostering synergies across existing European digital and sustainability programmes.
The DEPLOYTOUR project is seen as a crucial step toward enabling smarter destination management, supporting innovation in the tourism sector, and enhancing the capacity of local and regional actors to participate in the digital transformation of tourism.
