Benidorm wants to be awarded with the UNWTO awards for its Smart Tourist Destination project

01 September 2017

Benidorm quiere optar a los premios de la OMT por su proyecto de Destino Turístico Inteligente

Presents its candidacy in the category of Innovation in Public Policies and Governance

Benidorm wants to present its candidacy for the 14th edition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism based on its Smart Tourism Destination (DTI) project, in which "in recent months progress is being made with firm steps, "as the mayor, Toni Pérez, has indicated.

Pérez has informed that this Monday a proposal will be approached in an informative committee and in Local Government Board to present the candidacy of Benidorm to these awards "in the category of Innovation in Public Policies and Governance".

According to the mayor, these UNWTO awards "are the benchmarks for the world tourism sector and come to recognize leadership in excellence and innovation in many categories, one of them the public policy." Pérez has influenced that Benidorm is well positioned in this matter as it is immersed in the challenge of "becoming a smart tourist destination fulfilling the axes that marks the own WTO, such as innovation, technology, accessibility and sustainability."

The mayor has assured that the project 'Benidorm Destino Turistico Inteligente', on which the candidacy will be based, is an "innovative, absolutely competitive and sustainable initiative".

The terms of the call indicate that the award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance seeks to recognize highly innovative initiatives, managed by a public or mixed institution and that have introduced tangible and sustainable improvements in policies, processes and governance.

The deadline for submitting nominations is 30 September and the names of the winners of each category will be announced during the first week of November, once the jury has evaluated all the projects in the competition.

In previous editions, these awards have recognized the contribution of distinguished scholars, institutions, public and private entities and NGOs for their innovative tourism initiatives that have served as inspiration for the development of sustainable tourism at local, regional, national and international levels.