How can we make tourism more sustainable? The project "Data-driven Tourism for Sustainability" uses artificial intelligence and agent-based modeling to answer this question. In a conversation with Stefanie Wallinger from the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, we explore how digital technologies can simulate and optimize visitor flows. From the historic old town of Salzburg to the rural region of Bruck/Fusch, the project highlights innovative approaches.
About the Project
"Data-driven Tourism for Sustainability" innovatively combines sustainability in tourism with data-driven decision-making. The project uses artificial intelligence and agent-based modeling to develop sustainable solutions for tourism management.
Agent-Based Modeling for Visitor Flow Optimization
Agent-based modeling creates digital simulations of individual tourist behaviors, allowing planners to test different management scenarios before implementing them in reality. The system can model:
- Peak-load distribution across attractions and time slots
- Impact of pricing incentives on visitor distribution
- Effect of real-time information on tourist routing decisions
- Long-term destination carrying capacity scenarios
Case Studies: Salzburg and Bruck/Fusch
The project demonstrates its approach in two contrasting settings — the urban historic center of Salzburg with its well-documented overtourism challenges, and the rural alpine region of Bruck/Fusch with different carrying capacity dynamics. This dual focus ensures the methodology is transferable across destination types.
More details are available on the official project website: project-dts.eu
By Prof. DDr. Roman Egger