Tourism 4.0, a prominent advocate for responsible tourism practices, was prominently featured at the prestigious "It's About People 2024: In Service of Sustainability and Dignity" conference.
Representing Tourism 4.0, Urška Starc Peceny delivered a compelling presentation titled "Sustainable Tourism Planning for Local Residents' Quality of Life."
The tourism industry faces a critical challenge: balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social well-being. Sustainable tourism planning, which prioritizes local residents' quality of life, offers a promising path forward. The presentation explored the integral role of innovative tools and data analytics in this process.
Innovative technologies can effectively monitor tourism's impacts, ensuring informed decision-making that minimizes negative environmental and social consequences. They enable the development of smart tourism systems that optimize resource use, reduce negative impacts and enhance visitor experiences. Furthermore, they empower collaboration among different stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, and government administration, fostering inclusive and sustainable tourism development.
The conference presentation explained how innovative tools and multiple data sources can be leveraged to gather real-time and other (e.g. historic, statistical etc.) data on tourist flows, in order to plan efficiently and make informed decisions. By integrating technologies and data analytics into sustainable tourism planning frameworks, destinations can create a future where tourism not only thrives economically but also protects the environment, enriches local communities, and fosters a high quality of life for residents.
