Polish city shortlisted for European Capital of Smart Tourism

The competition is a recent initiative by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, the Rzeczpospolita newspaper reported.

The aim is to recognise two cities as European Capitals of Smart Tourism based on criteria such as sustainability, accessibility and digitisation alongside cultural heritage and creativity, the Polish paper said.

Also, four cities will be presented with European Smart Tourism Awards for achievements in individual categories.

Poznań, in Poland's west, is contending for the main title against cities such as Brussels, Helsinki, Tallinn, Lyon and Malaga.

The winners of the competition are due to receive prizes at a ceremony in Brussels on November 7, marking European Tourism Day.

Up to 2.3 million tourists visited Poznań last year, including nearly 500,000 day-trippers, according to City Hall data cited by Rzeczpospolita.

Some 900,000 tourists stayed in the city’s accommodation facilities in 2017, whereas the total number of overnight stays, at 1.5 million, was 8 percent higher than the year before.

(aba/gs)

Source: Rzeczpospolita