Most European cities are small or medium-sized, offering distinct identities and intimate connections between visitors and local life. In this episode, we explore what smart tourism looks like at the scale of smaller urban destinations and how they balance growth and authenticity with insights from three unique destinations:

Tartu (Estonia), a vibrant university city leveraging its 2024 European Capital of Culture legacy; Thessaloniki (Greece), a 2,300-year-old living city offering authentic, year-round cultural experiences; and Ghent (Belgium), a quirky Flemish destination proudly embracing its status as a hidden gem.

Speakers:

• Miia Maris Praks: Sustainability Coordinator, Visit Tartu, Estonia
• Kyriaki Oudatzi: General Director, Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, Greece
• Vicky Van Daele: Coordinator of Marketing Communications, Press and MICE, Visit Ghent, Belgium
• Deborah De Lausnay: Marketing Coordinator, Visit Ghent, Belgium

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE

Find out more about smart tourism and the European Capitals of Tourism competition on the initiative website: An EU initiative to reward innovative and smart tourism in European Cities!

More visitors than ever are arriving with a laptop in their bag. In this episode, we explore hybrid tourism from two angles: Madeira, where a pandemic-era pilot project turned the island into a remote work hotspot and Helsinki, where the goal isn't attracting new visitors but encouraging the ones who already come to stay a little longer.

Speakers:

• Micaela Vieira: Project Manager, Startup Madeira
• Jenny Taipale: Head of Marketing, Helsinki Partners

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE

Find out more about smart tourism and the European Capitals of Tourism competition at the initiative website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu

In this episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, celebrate the winners of the 2026 European Capital & Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism - Tampere (Finland) and Dubrovnik (Croatia). We take a closer look at these two destinations and their shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG MOVE, and representatives of the winning cities discuss how innovative tourism practices have led to their success in the competition and the impact of smart tourism on the cities.

Speakers:

• Heli Jokela: Marketing and Communications Director, Visit Tampere, Finland
• Mato Franković: Mayor of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE

Find out more about smart tourism and the #EUTourismCapital and #EUGreenPioneer competitions on our website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/

Smart Gets You Further – Building Trust in Online Reviews with the new EU Code of Conduct

Online reviews shape almost every travel decision we make. But with their growing influence, concerns about their trust and reliability have also grown.

In this episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, we look at how the European Union is tackling these challenges through the EU Code of Conduct for online reviews and ratings for tourism accommodation. We explore why this collaborative framework was created, how it works in practice and what it means for the future of tourism in Europe.

Speakers:

• Thomas Schumi: Policy Officer, European Commission (DG MOVE)
• Marine Thizon: Senior Public Affairs Manager, HOTREC (Association of hotels, restaurants and cafés in Europe)
• Fabrizio Orlando: Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Tripadvisor

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE.

Find out more about smart tourism and the #EUTourismCapital and #EUGreenPioneer competitions at the initiative website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/

Smart Gets You Further – Tourism & Quality of Life

In this episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, we explore how tourism can be a pathway to happiness and higher quality of life. Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG MOVE, together with speakers from Finland and Slovenia, discuss how travel is not only about sightseeing, but also about creating meaningful experiences that foster joy and fulfilment. We also take a look at how tourism is closely tied to the well-being of local communities and how the quality of life of residents and visitor satisfaction go hand in hand.

Speakers:

• Heli Jimenez: Senior Director, International Marketing, Business Finland

• Dejan Ristić: Project Manager, Ljubljana Tourism

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE.

Find out more about smart tourism and the #EUTourismCapital and #EUGreenPioneer competitions at the initiative website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/

Smart Gets You Further – In Conversation with the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas

In this episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, we have a special opportunity to hear from Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. As the first Commissioner with a dedicated tourism title, Mr Tzitzikostas discusses the importance of smart and sustainable tourism in Europe, and shares the key priorities of the new EU tourism strategy.

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE

Find out more about smart tourism and the #EUTourismCapital & #EUGreenPioneer competitions at the initiative website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/

Smart gets you further - The 2025 European Capital & Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism winners

In the new episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, we are introducing and celebrating the winners of the 2025 European Capital & Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism - Torino (Italy) and Benidorm (Spain). We will have a look at Torino's transformation into a smart tourism destination and Benidorm's sustainable and slow tourism approach.

Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG MOVE together with representatives of the winner cities, discuss the importance of the award and showcase the winning cities' achievements in smart tourism.

Speakers:

• Maurizio Vitale: Chairman, Turismo Torino e Provincia, Italy
• Cristina Cerutti, Tourism Monitor Officer, Turismo Torino e Provincia, Italy
• Leire Bilbao: Managing Director, Visit Benidorm, Spain

Host: Misa Labarile, Policy Officer of the European Commission, DG MOVE

Find out more about smart tourism and the #EUTourismCapital & #EUGreenPioneer competitions at the initiative website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/

In this episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast, we explore how the EU is helping destinations across Europe make tourism more sustainable and resilient. Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG GROW, is joined by Marlène Bartès also Policy Officer at the European Commission to discuss the Sustainable EU Tourism Project, which connects destinations to share practical solutions for challenges like reducing environmental impact, supporting local economies, and preserving cultural heritage.

Learn about the 50 best practices selected from over 300 case studies and discover how destinations like Majorca (Spain), the Azores (Portugal), and Montafon (Austria) are leading the way with replicable initiatives. Plus, get a sneak peek at upcoming workshops, webinars, and resources designed to foster collaboration and innovation in sustainable tourism.

For more information and to explore best practices from EU destinations, visit the #SustainableEUTourism website: www.europa.eu/!B9HpWf