The COIMBRA ST LLM project will create a Sustainable Tourism Portal based on a large language model (LLM). The goal is to enhance the experience of tourists and local communities. INOVA+ supported the municipality of Coimbra in applying for the European Urban Initiative (EUI) program and will now participate in the implementation of the project.

INOVA+ has approved a €5 million funding for the Municipality of Coimbra, aimed at developing the COIMBRA ST LLM project, an innovative Sustainable Tourism Portal. This project, supported by the European Urban Initiative (EUI) program, aims to improve the tourist experience and the quality of life of local communities.

Addressing the Challenges of Tourism Growth

In recent years, Coimbra has witnessed significant growth in tourist activity, especially in the area classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This increase has brought challenges related to mobility, job creation, quality of services, and residents’ perceptions of the impacts on their quality of life.

The COIMBRA ST LLM aims to address these challenges, transforming Coimbra into a more innovative, sustainable, and welcoming destination. This is the only Portuguese project among the 22 initiatives funded by the European Commission under the third call for projects of the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions.

Innovative Destination: Large Language Model-Based Tourism Web Portal

The project will result in the development of a Sustainable Tourism Web Portal based on Large Language Models (LLM). This platform will use real data about the city, processed by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to propose personalized itineraries for tourists. The goal is to create conditions to improve the management, planning, and sustainability of tourism activities, reducing the impact on the environment, local communities, and cultural heritage.

Sustainable Destination: Certification for Sustainable Tourism

A new Certification Model for Sustainable Tourism will be developed and tested. This activity responds to the growing awareness and demand of tourists when choosing their destination, considering environmental, social, and cultural factors. The certification will help offer a more authentic experience aligned with visitors’ expectations.

Welcoming Destination: Labor Observatory

A labor observatory will be created to make the tourism sector more capable of meeting current and future needs, especially in terms of sustainability. In collaboration with local agents, training programs will be developed tailored to the challenges of the tourism sector and the characteristics of its workforce, including migrants, who may receive training in their countries of origin.

Collaborative Innovation to Transform Tourism in Coimbra

The €5 million funding approved by INOVA+ for the COIMBRA ST LLM project represents a significant step towards transforming Coimbra into a sustainable and innovative tourist destination. This project will not only improve the experience of tourists but also benefit local communities and preserve the city’s cultural heritage.

The project has a solid network of partners, including the Municipality of Coimbra, the Intermunicipal Community of the Coimbra Region, Turismo de Portugal, the University of Coimbra, the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, the Instituto Pedro Nunes, and the companies Present Technologies and INOVA+.

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