Tomorrow the XIX International Tourism Forum starts, which on its first day will address the management of 'smart data'

The 19th International Tourism Forum of Benidorm has started its countdown. Tomorrow, Thursday, October 18, this new edition starts, which in its first day will focus on the 'smart data' and its management for the improvement of destinations and tourism experience, and also pay attention to reality of the leading municipalities in the sun and beach segment.

The inauguration of the Forum will be at 09:30 hours and will be made by the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez; of the regional secretary of Tourism of the Valencian Tourism Agency (AVT), Francesc Colomer; the rector of the University of Alicante (UA), Manuel Palomar; the president of the hotel management Hosbec, Toni Mayor; and the director of the Chair of Studies 'Pedro Zaragoza' of the UA.

The first table will be starring the eight destinations that make up the Alliance of Tourism Municipalities of Sun and Beach -AMT Sun and Beaches- and together they add more than 50 million overnight stays per year: Adeje, Arona, Benidorm, Calvià, Lloret de Mar , Salou, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Torremolinos. Then. This table has been organized in collaboration with the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) and the Hotel Technological Institute (ITH).

Next will take place the table entitled 'From Big to Smart Data', in which various companies and institutions will participate and which will address the importance of converting data into useful information to detect opportunities and threats for the sector early.

In the afternoon, participants in the Forum will visit the facilities of the Dinapsis Operation & Lab center. During the second day, on Friday, the Forum will evaluate the applications of Artificial Intelligence in tourism, as well as the possibilities offered by the use of 'cryptocurrencies' and 'blockchain' technology. The mayor, the general director of Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, Raquel Huete; and the general secretary of the hotel management Hosbec, Nuria Montes; and the director of the Chair of Tourism Studies 'Pedro Zaragoza' will close this new edition of the Forum starting at 13.30.

This biannual forum is organized by the City Council of Benidorm, the AVT and the Chair of Tourism Studies 'Pedro Zaragoza' with the collaboration of Hosbec, Visit Benidorm and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).