Diversifying access to tourist sites and offers by digital technologies
Argument
Digital tourism solutions offer innovative business models that enhance the management, interpretation, promotion, and sustainability of cultural heritage destinations. By combining digital tools, platforms, and immersive technologies, heritage stakeholders can create new cultural tourism products and services that generate value while reducing dependence on traditional visitor flows. Applications range from destination management systems that monitor tourist movements, assess impacts, and support evidence-based decision-making, to digital interpretation tools such as 3D reconstructions, augmented and virtual reality experiences, web applications, and immersive environments that enrich visitor engagement both on-site and remotely. Digital platforms also strengthen marketing, promotion, and sales, enabling heritage destinations to reach broader audiences and diversify revenue streams. Importantly, these solutions can help mitigate tourism pressure on vulnerable sites by offering alternative forms of access, distributing visitors across wider territories, and using digital indicators to monitor and manage the social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of tourism.
Practical applications
Digital commons supporting territorial Heritage Communities through participatory mapping of historic graveyards. Grassroots heritage documentation enabling genealogical and diaspora tourism.
Tālava Cidery : Transforming Cider Tasting Tours with Sustainable Digital Solutions
TĀLAVA - craft beverages created a digitally enhanced visitor experience combining tablets, QR codes, interactive tastings, multimedia storytelling and sustainability nudging throughout the production site. Visitors can explore beverage production, local sourcing, circular economy practices and sustainability topics in a more engaging and accessible way.
The initiative helped modernise rural tourism services, reduce paper use, improve visitor engagement, and create a more flexible and scalable tourism model. It also strengthens awareness of local products, sustainable production and regional food culture, while helping attract visitors beyond peak tourism periods.
TĀLAVA offers an interactive visitor experience where guests can explore the full journey of craft beverage production through digitally enhanced guided and self-guided experiences.
Visitors can:
- walk through the production facility and learn about cider and beverage production processes
- use tablets and QR codes placed throughout the site to access multimedia content - sustainability stories, videos and educational information
- participate in guided tastings with interactive digital tasting menus and product information
- discover local sourcing practices, circular economy solutions and environmental initiatives through sustainability “nudging” elements integrated into the journey
- purchase local beverages and products directly on-site
- experience seasonal tourism activities connected to local food culture and regional identity.
The initiative combines physical tourism infrastructure with digital interpretation tools to create a more engaging, accessible and modern rural tourism experience while promoting local products, sustainability awareness and regional heritage.
Farm “White Anemone”: Sustainable Food Cycle Management Solutions
By leveraging a digital pre-ordering platform and an educational greenhouse hub, the project actively transforms passive visitors into conscious consumers. This infrastructure directly mitigates regional food waste and builds local capacity through hands-on workshops focused on nutrient cycle. Ultimately, the initiative's added value lies in creating a replicable, circular model that strengthens the local bioeconomy, enhances short food supply chains, and elevates the regional profile for international eco-tourism.
Digital Pre-Ordering Platform: pre-order fresh produce baskets sourced from "Baltās anemones" and surrounding producers during their booking process, reducing supermarket reliance and optimizing exact food needs.
Cap A Mar by FISHNET
In Barcelona, digital tourism solutions are being used to offer interactive and immersive ways of experiencing the city’s fishing heritage. A 360° virtual reality video allows visitors to experience a fisherman’s working day, while an interactive digital guide explores recipes and traditions from Barcelona’s fishing neighbourhoods. An interactive digital story designed for children further connects fishing culture with marine sustainability and responsible consumption. These tools extend heritage interpretation beyond conventional visits, engage different audiences through experiential learning, and provide accessible ways to discover and appreciate local maritime heritage.
