Over 1 million euros to encourage the transition to Smart Tourism Destination
“With this call, the Veneto Region confirms its commitment to the digital transformation of tourism, encouraging the creation of more innovative and welcoming destinations for visitors and citizens. We want Veneto to be at the forefront of the European tourism landscape, with destinations that know how to exploit digital to offer unique and high-quality experiences. With a total financial allocation of over 1.49 million euros, the call aims to transform Veneto destinations into models of intelligent, accessible and sustainable tourism”.
With these words, the Councilor for Tourism of the Veneto Region, Federico Caner, anticipates the opening of the second edition of the “Smart Tourism Destination” call, a strategic initiative aimed at promoting digitalization and innovation in the tourism sector.
The initiative, which is part of the ERDF Regional Programme 2021-2027, aims to support the adoption of advanced digital tools by Veneto tourist destinations, encouraging the creation of innovative digital ecosystems to improve the visitor experience and the management efficiency of accommodation facilities.
“Tourism is a cornerstone of the Veneto economy and thanks to this line of financing we want to offer new opportunities to destinations so that they can evolve into Smart Tourism Destinations (STD), a model in which digital becomes an ally to make the tourist offer even more efficient and engaging – continues Caner -. The success of the first edition of the call, which saw the participation of 12 destinations in the Region, with all 10 projects presented already financed for an amount of over 3.5 million euros, has convinced us to invest additional resources, raising the total amount committed by the Region for Smart Tourism Destinations to 5 million”.
The main interventions planned include the adoption of the regional Destination Management System (DMS) for the digital management of the tourist offer; the integration of business intelligence and data analysis tools to improve the competitiveness of destinations; the creation and updating of digital platforms to ensure greater accessibility and safety for visitors; the implementation of innovative technological solutions such as augmented reality, metaverse, IoT sensors and blockchain to enrich the tourist experience; the launch of circular economy actions to reduce the environmental impact, including the reduction of the use of single-use plastic and the optimization of packaging; assistance to local businesses to improve their digital presence and online promotion.
The call is aimed at Destination Management Organizations (OGD) recognized by the Veneto Region and tourist destinations that intend to adopt an advanced digital management model.
Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the Fondi.RVE platform of the Veneto Region, starting from March 18, 10:00 a.m. and until June 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Press Release No. 343/2025 Veneto Region
