New center of excellence to improve innovation and sustainability in the tourism sector
The new center of excellence CoE in Tourism aims to promote innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness of destinations and companies of the tourism sector. This public-private initiative will develop applied research, innovation, knowledge transfer, and competitive intelligence services.
Promoters
The Eurecat technology center with the General Directorate of Tourism of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the four Catalan provincial councils, the city councils of Barcelona and Vila-seca, and leading companies in the sector, promoted the CoE in Tourism Innovation.
The promoters of the CoE in Tourism Innovation include Barcelona Turisme, the Catalan Tourism Agency, L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, Avant Grup, Avoris, Baqueira / Beret, Best Hotels, CaixaBank, CONFECAT, Fira de Barcelona, La Pedrera-Casa Milà, Grupo Julià, Guitart Hotels, La Roca Village, MedPlaya, Oh! Tels, PortAventura World, ROC Roi and Sangulí Salou.
The initiative addresses the entire value chain of the tourism sector, and the inhabitants of tourist destinations.
Fostering innovation and development
The CoE will promote innovation and technological development as tools for efficient management. It will also generate innovative projects at a national and international level.
In addition, it will encourage the exchange of knowledge with a regular program of dissemination activities, publications, and events. Regarding destinations and companies, the center will support them in strategic, sustainable, and responsible product planning, services, and policies.
The center of excellence will create an excellent environment to increase value through R&D&I in tourism. It will do so by working on Smart Data, technological innovation, outreach actions, recruitment, and strategic alliances with the touristic ecosystem.
More than 11 percent of GDP and about 14 percent of employment
The tourism sector accounts for 10 percent of world GDP. In Catalonia, it accounts for more than 11 percent of GDP and 14 percent of employment, with more than 400,000 jobs, according to data collected in the Tourism Marketing Plan of Catalonia 2018-2022.
The sector faces the challenges of decentralization, diversification, deseasonalization revenue, and sustainability.