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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

l-SPEEDInformation Society Policies for

European Economic Development -

Activities of the Region of Crete on ICTs in Tourism

17-18 May Heraklion Crete

REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

Partnership• City of Venice (Italy)

• Hedmark County (Norway) • City of Warsaw (Poland)

• National Ass. of Municipalities of Bulgaria• Region of Crete (Greece)

• Powys County Council (UK)• Regional Government of Galicia (Spain)

• City of Bucharest (Romania) • Urban Community of Nantes (France)

• Province of Rome (Italy)

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

Scenario

• Tourism economy plays a fundamental role for the E.U. economy:

It indirectly generates 10% of EU GDP and provides12% of jobs

• Arrivals are growing at a lower rate than the world average and by 2020, Europe's share of the total market is expected to fall from 54% to 46%

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

Why Information Society and Tourism?

Innovation and new information technologies have become determining factors for the competitiveness of the tourism industry and for strengthening exchanges with other sectors linked to it. There is also a need to accelerate the integration of information society tools and services into all tourism activities, particularly those carried out by SMEs.

Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination - a new political

framework for tourism in Europe

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 2010

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

Project Objectives

• To increase the awareness of policy makers regarding ICT potentials for growth, competitiveness, and sustainability

•  To support Innovation through sharing solutions at EU level

•  To facilitate the development and the adoption of ICT-based public services

•  To foster the cooperation between public and private sector in the frame of the Tourism Economy

•  To foster economic attractiveness of EU regions

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

Expected results• Increased policy makers' awareness on Information Society Policies related to

Sustainable Tourism Economy

• Improved regional/local policies for the developing of ICT-based public services to increase the productivity and competitiveness

• Increased capacity of local/regional administrations across Europe to roll out ICT services and overcome obstacles

• Increased and widespread know-how of partners regarding ICT-based solutions for Tourism Economy

• Improved cooperation and dialogue between public sector and private actors in the frame of the Tourism Economy

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

SWOT ANALYSIS

• Difference between regions concerning size and tradition of being a tourist destination

• Difference between skills in ICTs literacy among the workinf force and the access to Internet

• ICT infrastructure

But also similarities…..

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

SWOT ANALYSIS

• ICT and creative business remain too separate from the tourism industry, tourism still not a part of the knowledge economy.

• Lack of collaboration between local and regional public bodies and authorities.

• Fragmentation and lack of coordination of initiative between regional partners and sector development, results in a lot of short term pilot initiatives, lack of consistent strategies

• Gap between research and business community, results in failure of technology transfer in business and low level of innovation.

• Many SME’s in Tourism and in combination with low education level among the owners and the staff results low level of innovation

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REGION OF CRETE

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This project is co-financed by the ERDF and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODPRACTICES

• To foster growth and innovation in Tourism

• To develop an integrated approach to Tourism

• To enhance cooperation between public and private sector

• To face Tourism congestion and manage the distribution of tourist flows

• To overcome seasonal nature of demand

• To reinforce the quality of the supply, promoting its diversification

• To improve statistics and analysis relating to Tourism

30 Good practices identified so far among partner regions and EU level !!!

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REGION OF CRETE