EU Smart Tourism Podcast

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:

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:

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:

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: 

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: 

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:

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 


In this episode, we explore the key element driving the future of tourism - data. We take a closer look at how cities are using data to enhance their tourism offer, manage visitor flows and create targeted campaigns.

Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG GROW, together with experts on the topic, discuss how cities are using data beyond collecting numbers and how it can be used for story-telling alongside preserving cultural heritage and even contributing to sustainability.

Speakers:

• Siobhán Daly: expert on responsible tourism management and sustainable tourism.

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

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

In this episode, we dive into the latest innovations in smart public transport, bike-sharing, and real-time traffic management, explore how these advancements are making cities more accessible and sustainable.

Misa Labarile, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG GROW, together with experts on the topic, discuss the challenges policymakers face in this rapidly evolving field and highlight unique schemes that enhance the experiences of both tourists and residents. Join us as we take a closer look at the future of urban mobility in tourism and discover how these cutting-edge solutions are shaping our cities.

Speakers:

• Nick Hall: Leading industry expert on digital tourism and founder of the Digital Tourism Think Tank.

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

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