Page 24 - Smart tourism: A path to more secure and resilient destinations

o guarantee sustainability;
o increase their activity; and

o minimize the environmental impact.

This process should be approached in three main stages/phases:

• before (understanding the current destination);
• during (revamp the destination); and

• after (create the destination of the future).

Firstly, the current destination must be transformed. To do so, an initial diagnosis of the degree of
maturity of the destination is conducted and the focus is placed on the digitalization of operating
models and visitor interaction.

Secondly, the destination must be revitalized. Once the context in which the destination operates
is understood, it is necessary to enhance the destination by reinventing it and adjusting its offer
and services in a dynamic way.

Finally, the destination of the future must be designed through continuous improvement. In short,
the process would involve learning from the past to design a more resilient future through pre-
emptive measures and preparedness to respond to any crisis.

For example, SEGITTUR (State Mercantile Society for the Management of Innovation and Tourism
Technologies) from Spain has also been aiming to put in place a credible tourism system to enable
the transition to a smart destination with the strategy indicated in the Figure below.

14 Smart tourism: A path to more secure and resilient destinations