The LAB-IIT conference focused on the application of digital twins in tourism, organized by the Eurecat technology centre and the Tourism Board of the Provincial Council of Tarragona, highlighted today in Reus the potential of this technology to transform and optimize the management of tourism companies and destinations towards a more sustainable and intelligent model.
The event showcased real-world applications of this emerging technology in the tourism sector and the opportunities for the strategic implementation of digital twins—virtual models of real-world services or processes that make it possible to simulate and anticipate scenarios with great precision in order to predict their effects.
“The use of digital twin technology enables tourism companies and destinations to optimize process management, make better-informed decisions and accelerate innovation,” said Salvador Anton, Director of Eurecat’s Tourism Area and professor at the Rovira i Virgili University.
From the Tourism Board of the Provincial Council of Tarragona, it was highlighted that “intelligent data analysis and the use of technology are part of a strategy that we have long integrated and promoted in destination management. That is why it is essential to remain attentive to new tools that can contribute to the continuous improvement we are seeking, such as the digital twins featured at this event.”
In this regard, “digital twins open the door to data-driven tourism planning, enabling scenario anticipation, management optimization and the design of more sustainable and intelligent destinations, while also improving the traveller experience and the competitiveness of the sector,” commented Álvaro Carrillo de Albornoz, Director of the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH), during the dialogue held with Rolando García, Business Development Manager for the tourism sector at Eurecat.
During the conference, Víctor Badorrey, Public Administration Business Development Director at Libelium, highlighted the potential of digital twins as a strategic tool to anticipate situations before they occur, in areas such as water consumption due to rising temperatures, the impact of new products, or key factors in hotel efficiency.
The event, held at the Boca de la Mina Innovation and Training Centre in Reus, also presented experiences of digital twin technology implementation by companies and destinations through a round-table discussion.
Álvaro Arrieta, professor and Academic Director of Hospitality Management at CETT Barcelona, shared the case of the use of digital twins at the Alimara Hotel, which allows the analysis and real-time optimization of various operational parameters.
Meanwhile, José Antonio Muñiz, founder and owner of DIGIVISION, presented tourism products developed through the creation of replicas of locations such as the historic port of Tarragona, enabling the recovery, exploration and interpretation of history in a tangible and immersive way for everyone.
In addition, Christian Sánchez, 3D Manager at Mirai, detailed the use of this technology in hotels and tourist destinations in Benidorm, offering 3D digital replicas to virtually explore hotel facilities and interactive maps to discover destination offerings.
Finally, Ricardo González, Director of Digital Policies and Innovation at the Vila-seca City Council, presented Vila-seca’s tourism digitalization process aimed at more efficient and sustainable management through a smart city platform that collects environmental, mobility and service data, improving decision-making and optimizing public resources.
Workshop on artificial intelligence tools in tourism management
Alongside the technical conference, LAB-IIT is organizing a workshop to explore in greater depth the functionalities of artificial intelligence and other digital tools specifically for the day-to-day management of tourism.
The workshop will focus on how artificial intelligence can support content creation, digital tourism communication, data analysis and efficient management, as well as the automation and improvement of common processes in tourism destinations and companies.
Two sessions will be held: the first on 5 September in the Terres de l’Ebre at Classroom 108 of the Terres de l’Ebre Campus of the Rovira i Virgili University in Tortosa, and the second on 9 September on the Costa Daurada at Computer Lab 3 of the Faculty of Tourism and Geography of the Rovira i Virgili University in Vila-seca. Both sessions will be led by Laia Morales, founding partner of Bexperience.
