Ostuni, 20 Nov. (Adnkronos/Labitalia) – On November 19, a workshop on the relationship between tourism and innovation was held at the new Casa Flash Art headquarters in Ostuni. An opportunity for discussion between national and regional stakeholders representing institutions, academia, start-ups and reference entrepreneurship of a sector, the tourism one, increasingly contaminated by 360° innovation. (SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY)
The day encouraged discussion between authoritative voices with the aim of developing a paper in which to collect analyzes and perspectives for a sector and a region that is increasingly at the center of the country system. This document will then be circulated to stimulate national debate. In this context, together with the 2031 Prize, Repower wants to offer a contribution by bringing together different points of view, acting as an enabler of a constructive discussion that enriches both the participants and those who read this analysis, which will be public and available.
The works were organized by dividing the participants into four working groups, with as many topic leaders, who explored a specific declination of the relationship between Innovation and Tourism: infrastructure and territory, AI&Tech, creativity, sustainability.
Tourism and innovation are, in fact, the key words that define the seventh edition of the Repower special prize, which this year presents itself in a completely new guise. In the Hall of Mayors of the Municipality of Ostuni, the five startup finalists of the Award presented their projects, chosen from hundreds of applications because they were able to best introduce innovation to support sustainable tourism, an essential lever for enhancing the territories of our country and their cultural heritage from a social, economic as well as environmental point of view.
Among the topic leaders who coordinated the work, Edoardo Colombo – expert in digital transformation in tourism and among the promoters of Turismi.Ai, a non-profit association that promotes the use of artificial intelligence in the tourism sector – stimulated discussion on the role of AI in the tourism sector, also in relation to the problem of overtourism and the ways in which to tackle it. Pier Luigi Sacco – Full Professor of Cultural Economics at the Iulm University of Milan with rectoral responsibility also for innovation – coordinated the Infrastructure and Territory table, dedicated to the balance between the tourist vocation and strategic investments for the country. Giorgio Ciron – director of InnovUp, the main association of the Italian innovation ecosystem and, according to Forbes, among the 100 Italians under 30 leaders of the future – followed the Sustainability table, with the aim of identifying the essential interventions to strengthen the Apulian tourist offer and how to enhance them so that they become a business lever. The fourth table was curated by Cristiano Seganfreddo – president of the 2031 Prize – and Fabio Severino – economist and sociologist – who explored the macro-theme of creativity and culture in relation to tourism. From the reflections of the tables, a summary will then be published which will collect the ideas and analyzes of the main connections between innovation and tourism, to stimulate the debate at a national level.
The five startups from all over Italy that will compete for the Award are ArtCentrica, Bestie bite, Gaia, Shareboat and Smartrek. During the evening event, each startup had 5 minutes to present its idea, with a further 5 minutes dedicated to a direct discussion with the jury. The projects fall into specific categories such as the definition of innovative tourist routes, policies for the management of overtourism and the valorisation of territorial heritage. AI plays a key role in the proposals selected in this edition, consistently with the technological developments of the last year.
The winning startup will have access to a business networking and mentoring program for 6 months, during which it will be accelerated to support its growth and implementation of business strategies. Furthermore, Repower will offer assistance in the pre-competitive development of technologies and the protection of intellectual property, will provide consultancy for the definition of the business model and will ensure that start-ups can present their project to potential investors and corporate partners, as well as support in digital PR and legal advice.
The jury called to evaluate the projects is made up of experts from the world of tourism, innovation, local administrators, academics, stakeholders and entrepreneurs. In detail, the judges of the VII edition are: Fabio Severino, economist of culture and tourism, Giorgio Ciron, director of InnovUp, Pierluigi Sacco, professor of Biobehavioral Economics University of Chieti-Pescara, Mara Maggiore, Regional Tourism Agency regional tourist observatory , Maria Cristina Rizzo, president of the Le Costantine Foundation, Vanessa Coppola, president of Young Entrepreneurs Cna Puglia, Marina Lalli, national president of Federturismo Confindustria, Mikaela Bandini, creator of the Can’t Forget Italy platform and Nicola Maffei, tourism councilor of the Municipality of Ostuni , in addition to the aforementioned Edoardo Colombo.
Among the elements of continuity with previous editions, the announcement of the start-up winner of the Repower Special Award, which will be announced on 19 December on the occasion of the national final of the fourteenth edition of the 2031 Award, the most significant recognition at European level for the world of innovation, promoted by President Cristiano Seganfreddo.
“We have decided – explains Fabio Bocchiola, CEO of Repower Italia – to present this edition of the Award in a different way compared to the previous ones, while maintaining the principles that represent the spirit of this event: the multiple connections between sustainability and innovation and the will to give support to the best ideas capable of contributing to the transition process towards a more sustainable world. We have chosen to get closer to the territories, creating a comparison between start-ups and the tourism sector, a key market for the country system, which thanks to innovation can release a lot of potential, renewing itself in a logic of valorisation of the inestimable historical landscape heritage that contains the ‘Italy. The projects presented represent a step towards this awareness. We are proud to be able to contribute in turn by supporting a start-up close to Repower’s values, as we have done in the last 6 editions of the Award”.
“It is exciting – comments Cristiano Seganfreddo, president of 2031 – to see how Repower is becoming, year after year, a catalyst for active innovation. A fundamental collaboration for 2031, the most important incubator award in Italy, which arises from the sharing of values and attention to change and support for the Italian startup community. This year Repower has undertaken an original strategy that combines innovation and territories, with particular attention to tourism as a lever for local development. Ostuni and Puglia are ideal places for this laboratory. The result is a real think tank for a new Italian renaissance, fueled by the energy of startups and projects that look to the future while respecting the roots and the immense environmental, social and artistic heritage”.
ArtCentrica, an online platform that transforms the learning and teaching of art and humanities through art by promoting an interactive and interdisciplinary approach, which allows users to explore works in detail, analyze them and describe them in an innovative way. ArtCentrica is designed to enrich the educational experience of students and teachers by supporting the development of soft skills, such as critical thinking and creativity, through engaging and customizable content.
Bestie bite, restaurant app to discover and review new restaurants, bars and hotels through immersive video reviews uploaded directly by the user community. Users can also recommend restaurants and invite friends to join the community; it is possible, in addition to seeing the locations and dishes with your own eyes, also search for your favorite contents, filtering by diet, cuisine and occasion, using the map and geolocation. The app allows you to easily upload new video reviews of experiences made in your city or during users’ travels.
Gaia, artificial intelligence for tourist destinations, a virtual assistant equipped with AI that helps tourists in Garda Trentino learn more about the area through constantly updated information. Gaia uses the intelligence of the Large Language Model (LLM) of the most recent version of Chat GPT, and is designed to work with other LLMs, including open source, to reduce costs and have greater customization possibilities. Gaia’s software allows total control of the AI at the service of the destination: the software finds the information within its database, which is constantly updated and is able to quickly recognize any clusters of questions and process the answers.
Shareboat is a web platform and mobile app designed to facilitate the discovery of the sea, with the possibility of connecting directly with locals, a bridge between those who own boats and those who want to experience the sea by creating a local collaboration network. A collaboration that allows us to develop solutions and services that enrich the tourist offer and stimulate the local economy. Shareboat is useful for connecting travellers, private shipowners, nautical tourism companies, private companies and public bodies. Boat-sharing helps reduce CO2 emissions and creates awareness for sustainable tourism.
Smartrek, a digital tourism application using artificial intelligence, is a virtual guide and service ecosystem that combines the power of AI with real-time access to data provided by IoT signage, to create a personalized and rich experience of information for tourists, generating a positive impact for local communities and the environment. SmartTrek collects and analyzes data on tourist activity and preferences, used to support the sustainable growth of the area. A tool participated by the territory designed to create a fluid, safe and immersive experience for tourists, through the creation of tailor-made routes, geolocalized multimedia content and the possibility of managing emergencies in real time.
How do the four working groups—Infrastructure and Territory, AI&Tech, Creativity, and Sustainability—integrate their findings to enhance the relationship between innovation and tourism?
What is the significance of the 7th edition of the Repower Special Prize, and how does it differ from previous editions? How do the four working groups (Infrastructure and Territory, AI&Tech, Creativity, Sustainability) contribute to the analysis of the relationship between innovation and tourism? Can you explain the role of artificial intelligence in tourism, particularly in addressing overtourism and promoting sustainability? How do the selected startups (ArtCentrica, Bestie bite, Gaia, Shareboat, Smartrek) represent innovative ways to approach tourism and sustainability? What are some of the key challenges and opportunities for using technology to enhance tourist experiences and support local communities? How can we ensure that innovation in the tourism sector contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage while promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability? What role do partnerships between startups, local authorities, and stakeholders play in driving positive change in the tourism industry?
