(Newswire.net — October 28, 2020) — Technology has completely revolutionized the way we travel. Nowadays, advances in the tourism sector allow us to plan and enjoy much more exciting, safe and interactive experiences thanks to the intense work that is being done from the so-called smart destinations.
A Tourist Destination, to be considered as Smart (DTI) has to be an innovative space, consolidated on a cutting-edge technological infrastructure, which guarantees the sustainable development of the tourist territory and is accessible to all. It should also facilitate visitor interaction and integration with the environment and increase the quality of their experience at the destination, while improving the quality of life of the resident.
This is the case of the municipality of Finestrat. The City Council of this beautiful town has been working on its Smart Tourist Destination strategy for several years, integrated into the DTI network of the Region of Valencia promoted by Invat · tur and Segittur’s national network of Smart Destinations.
Within the lines of action of its DTI 2020-2023 master plan, it has launched the ‘Smart Mountain, Puig Campana’ project. This initiative constitutes a technological and innovative milestone, pioneer in Spain, for the sustainable management of natural spaces in a sustainable and intelligent key.
The natural area of Puig Campana is a unique space of great beauty, located in the municipality of Finestrat (Alicante province), on the Costa Blanca. We are facing one of the most visited mountains in the Region of Valencia, with a height of 1,410 meters, located less than 10 kilometers from the sea. It is an area of special protection, classified as a “protected natural landscape. It has two approved routes, the PR-CV 289 that corresponds to the circular path and the PR-CV 289.1 that goes up to the top.
To become a DTI, the ‘Smart Mountain’ program has raised different challenges. One of the most important of them has been the search for a technological solution in a natural environment in which there is no mobile coverage from any operator stands out, with a high number of visitors throughout the year, – especially between autumn and spring.
To this challenge imposed by its natural conditions, it must be added that it is a mountain with a high degree of difficulty, which causes rescues to be carried out by helicopter several times a month. For this reason, it is necessary to find innovative solutions that allow controlling the number of visitors to preserve this natural space, bring the mountain closer to those visitors who do not have the possibility of visiting it and help in the creation of new tourism products and / or services.
The team responsible for the project has defined 5 lines or areas of work:
- Smart Protection
- Smart Service
- Smart Management
- Smart Marketing
- Smart Sustainable
- Smart Protection
This is the first phase of the ‘Puig Campana Smart Mountain’ project, in which actions focused on improving the management and safety of the natural environment have already been implemented. In this sense, work continues on the maintenance of the trails, their marking, their inventory and their digitization.
At the same time, as a pioneering and innovative solution, the installation of intelligent nodes has been carried out that allow to provide connectivity via WIFI, in areas with no mobile coverage, to users who use the Puig Campana application, so that they communicate with local police in real time via smart SOS. The app has several functionalities: the main one is undoubtedly to confer security and report accidents or disorientation of walkers, as well as provide notifications of possible fires or trails in poor condition, geolocating users at all times, among others.
This technology is also combined with the use of drones by the local police and the Firefighters of the Provincial Consortium of Alicante. These drones have already been used successfully in some rescues of hikers in the Puig Campana area.
Smart Management
The implementation of the technology must be accompanied by management of the data generated in the territory. This work is carried out on the axis of Smart Management, which includes the implementation of a destination Big Data platform that allows managing the information generated by users in real time, as well as the implementation of SOS systems to optimize rescues.
At the same time, the public administration acts as an active and dynamic agent, promoting technological entrepreneurship and the implementation of innovative solutions in the destination.
Smart Service
Parallel to these two axes, the axis responsible for the creation of new services is developed, both from the field of public administration and public-private collaboration. In this sense, work is being done on the creation of an innovative interpretation center where technology will play a predominant role. It includes the generation of virtual content, holographic tools, augmented reality and virtual reality, as well as training classrooms.
It has also opted for public-private collaboration, and a clear example is the creation of a new tourist offer and new products / services, such as the exclusive luxury hotel Nature Suites Puig Campana, also provided with a BTT Center and a service office to the visitor and information on activities in the mountains integrated into the area of the Puig Campana Natural Park. These facilities offer the rental of bicycles and equipment you may need for cycling and hiking.
Integrated in a privileged enclave, Nature Suites is a boutique hotel that has 15 exclusive rooms spread out among nature, 10 of them double rooms with balcony and 5 spacious suites with stunning views, terrace and ecological fireplace.
In addition, this establishment has a multipurpose room to host company meetings and other Team Building activities that allow combining work and relaxation in equal parts, as well as a pool area with Pool & Lounge Bar where you can taste a wide selection of gourmet products.
Smart Marketing
The Smart Marketing block, for its part, encompasses actions related to e-commerce, the customization of the offer, the segmentation of users, the promotion of innovation or the creation of tourist spots, among others. In this sense, it is worth highlighting the opportunity to enrich this program with the creation of tourist packages with the accommodation and complementary offer of the destination.
Smart Sustainable
The Smart Sustainable line implies the implementation of sustainable and environmentally friendly actions, framed in the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) objectives. Aspects such as accessibility and sustainability are key for the development of future tourism services and products that will be offered to visitors, without losing the perspective that these solutions must be integrated into the day-to-day lives of residents in the destination.
It is a project that is inclusive, safe, sustainable and that values the tourist and natural resources of the destination for both the visitor and the resident. The future of tourism is here and it has come so that we can fully enjoy each experience.
Miguel Ángel Catalán, Director of the Smart Office of the City of Finestrat
Sonia Rodríguez, Communication Director of the Hotel Nature Suites