The Smart Tourism Destinations (DTI) program driven by Segittur and Spain's Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism has become the reference framework for tourism digitization in Spain. Over 100 municipalities now hold the DTI seal. What does it actually mean, and how can your destination achieve it?
What is a Smart Tourism Destination?
A DTI is an innovative tourism destination, built on a cutting-edge technological infrastructure, that ensures sustainable territorial development, accessible to all, facilitates visitor interaction with the environment, and enhances the quality of their destination experience.
In practical terms, a DTI municipality has implemented digital tools to:
- Know in real time what is happening in its tourism territory
- Offer quality digital services to visitors
- Manage resources sustainably and efficiently
- Guarantee universal accessibility
The 5 DTI Model Axes
The DTI model is built around five strategic axes that must be worked on in an integrated manner:
Axis 1 – Governance. Organizational structure, public-private collaboration, and regulatory framework supporting the destination's digital transformation.
Axis 2 – Innovation. Implementation of emerging technologies (AI, big data, IoT) applied to destination management and visitor experience.
Axis 3 – Technology. Digital infrastructure (public wifi, sensors, management platforms) supporting intelligent tourism services.
Axis 4 – Accessibility. Removal of physical and digital barriers to ensure all visitors, regardless of abilities, can enjoy the destination.
Axis 5 – Sustainability. Responsible management of natural and cultural resources, with impact measurement and mitigation strategies.
What does the DTI seal give you?
- Priority access to funding: DTI destinations have priority in European and national grant calls for tourism digitization projects.
- Greater visibility: presence on the official Tourism Spain portal and the international smart destinations network.
- Continuous improvement framework: the DTI diagnosis identifies improvement areas and provides a clear transformation roadmap.
- Competitive differentiation: tourists will positively value the digital quality of destination services.
The certification process step by step
Phase 1 – Diagnosis: Evaluation of the destination's current state across the five axes using the DTI Indicator System.
Phase 2 – Action plan: Definition of concrete projects to improve across evaluated axes, with budget, timelines, and responsibilities.
Phase 3 – Implementation: Execution of action plan projects. Platforms like Tourism 360 play a key role here, providing the necessary technology modules.
Phase 4 – Certification: External audit verifying compliance with requirements and awarding the DTI seal. Certification is renewed every two years.