Within the EU project CERTESS, about thirty representatives of European tourism, regional development and project organizations learned about new digital services and tools from Austria. These can be used to impart cultural knowledge and offerings of cultural institutions, as well as for the preparation of tourist information along European Cultural Routes. The focus lay primarily on tools for orientation and navigation of visitors in cultural routes (open street map, GPS), virtual experience of history through virtual, activating city guide and mobile pilgrim companion (smartphone apps), as well as forming a “cultural routes community” through social media.

Among the projects presented were:

Hallein Tour Guide

Salzburg Research developed jointly with the tourism office in Hallein and other regional partners, a mobile application for the tourist region Dürrnberg (Salt Mines, Celtic Village, Sanctuary, natural space). The aim of this mobile companion is a further increase in the attractiveness of the tourism area particularly with regard to younger visitors. The development of the adventure tour builds on the experience of Salzburg Research from the Interreg project “Heritage Alive!”, in which a mobile, location-sensitive culture guide for the city of Salzburg was developed.

Virtual Pilgrimage Companion

The Diocese of Graz-Seckau presented a new app for the pilgrims 2.0. More information: katholische-kirche-steiermark.at

The aim of these technologies: the guests of a Cultural Route should be empowered to plan the visits and route segments individually and self-organized, and to acquire cultural knowledge and experiences to share. Arrive and come back!

All presentations: ilab.salzburgresearch.at