Coimbra demonstrates how AI-Powered Tourism Takes Centre Stage in Shaping the Future of Smart Destinations

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme convened its second Deep Dive Online Technical Session (DDOTS) under Community of Practice 3 (CoP 3) on Sustainable Smart Tourism on 30 April 2026, hosted by Coimbra.

Bringing together cities from Europe and Asia, the session focused on smart destination intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers of sustainable tourism development.

A Structured Exchange on Smart Tourism Solutions lead by Coimbra

Filomena Dias, Head of Tourism Division at Coimbra City Council, emphasised the importance of collaboration, innovation, and integrated approaches in managing tourism sustainably.

Three key thematic areas:

1. Sustainable Mobility for Accessible Tourism
   Tiago Cardoso highlighted Coimbra’s efforts to reshape urban mobility through the Metrobus and SMTUC systems, improving accessibility and connectivity for both residents and visitors.

2. Digital Innovation and AI for Tourism Management
Victor Batista from Present Technologies introduced the SHIFT Coimbra initiative, featuring a decision-support web platform that integrates data and AI tools to enhance destination management and visitor experience.

3. Building Future Skills through TUMO Coimbra
Rita de Almeida presented TUMO Coimbra as an innovative model for youth digital skills development, combining creativity, technology, and AI to support smart territories.

Exchanges & Planning

The session included an engaging plenary discussion, where participating cities—including Leh, Gangtok, Jeonju, Seberang Perai, Messina and Prato—shared reflections and explored opportunities for adapting these approaches to their local contexts.

The session concluded with action planning led by Prato, outlining next steps for the Community of Practice, including the development of fact sheets, SWOT analyses, and pilot initiatives.

Advancing in Global Cooperation on Smart Tourism

The session reaffirmed the importance of AI-driven tools, capacity building, and sustainable mobility in shaping the future of tourism. Through structured peer exchange and collaboration, the IURC Programme continues to support cities in developing innovative, inclusive, and resilient tourism strategies.

As participating cities move towards implementation and upcoming international exchanges, the Coimbra session marks another important milestone in strengthening global urban cooperation.