CASE STUDY TOURISM IN SMART CITIES What is a smart city? A smart city is a place where some services like mobility, healthcare , security and energy are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants, businesses and visitors, too. In a smart city, sensors, networks, and applications collect data on several topics, they are then analysed and used so as to offer a better quality of services like fewer emissions, better urban transport networks, upgraded water supply and more efficient ways to save energy and to dispose of waste . Smart cities for tourists Four subjects should combine to make a city smart: technology, sustainability, innovation and accessibility. Smart cities’ commitment to these sectors has not only improved the quality of life of their inhabitants but it has also become a differential element for tourists choosing the place where they want to spend a holiday. Smart tourism destinations are able to meet the needs of tourists who prefer to enjoy the same commodities they have at home; in other words, they want to be able to connect to social media, share their photographs and experiences, easily locate relevant sites, access them without any problems, have information in their own language, choose the best restaurants and pay by using electronic means. Smart city ranking The Smart City Observatory born in 2017 and based in Lausanne and Singapore, every year produces a smart city ranking whose standards are focused on economic and technological aspects as well as on the human dimension, like quality of life, environment and inclusiveness. Singapore has always been ranked in the top positions and is universally considered the smartest city in the world since it is champion in smart mobility, healthcare and safety, efficient governance , and livability . European Smart Cities In 2019 the European Commission launched “The European Capital of Smart Tourism”, a competition aimed at promoting smart tourism in the EU, strengthening smart destinations in Europe and enhancing tourism offers for visitors. Sustainability, cultural heritage and creativity, accessibility and digitalisation are the four categories used to evaluate the European cities. An independent European jury is in charge of selecting two winning cities every year. Helsinki won the European competition in 2019 (together with Lyon) and it has always taken a podium position in the international ranking edited by the Smart City Observatory. GLOSSARY : : : : : : : : : : commitment impegno to dispose of waste smaltire i rifiuti to enhance potenziare governance amministrazione healthcare sanità livability vivibilità ranking classifica smart intelligente supply fornitura upgraded potenziato