With 95% of EU travellers using tourism digital tools, this rapidly-expanding trend was the topic of an event held in September to introduce the training of the dTour project; part of an Erasmus+ programme of the European Union that LTB is taking part in. 

Significant conclusions and data regarding tourism in a digital era emerged from the presentations given by experts in the field, with various elements of the digital boom covered, including the use of social media, the optimum creation of websites, and even the future of robotics within the hotel industry.  

The guest speakers were: Mr Michalis Pouros; First Tourism Officer of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism; Dr Aspasia Simillidou, UCLan Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism, and Mr Alex Constanti, Business Development of ideaseven Digital. Sofia Constantinou of MMC – the second Cyprus partner for the project alongside LTB - presented the details of the certification programme: ‘Digital Tourism Adviser - ISO 17024’. 

An interesting discussion ensued based on the presentations, with debates on the role of ‘influencers’ and the question of how far hotels should go in a digital transformation. 

LTB has several projects that bridge traditional tourism with digital tourism to offer visitors an enhanced and tailored cultural experience. Under the ‘Virtual Larnaka’ banner, the projects implemented to date include the award-winning Larnaka Storytelling Statues, Larnaka Virtual Museums and Ancient Kition Port Virtual Reconstruction, and the Larnaka Virtual Diving Routes and Larnaka 360° Cultural Walk. Specialist videos and QR codes for various attractions and experiences are also being expanded for more interactive ways to access information, including on maps and for the Larnaka Thematic Cycling Routes.