This research examines the current state of open data in tourism, highlighting its exponential growth and potential benefits. Key findings indicate that open data is mainly provided by destination management and governmental organizations, and primarily used for mobile applications and websites. Although the utilization of open data in tourism is still in its early stages, it presents opportunities for innovation and enhanced destination management.

1. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 1
Utilizing open data in tourism
Juho Pesonen, Head of research (e-tourism),
juho.pesonen@uef.fi
www.uef.fi/mot
Mikko Lampi, project manager, Mikkeli University of
Applied Sciences

2. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 2
Background for this research
• The amount of data available for us is increasing
almost exponentially.
• We need data in order to measure and manage
tourism.
• Openess movement
– encourages transition from private owned
information to public and easily accessible
information.
– You are what you share (Belk, 2014).
• Possibilities for innovation. 28.6.2016 2

3. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 3
What is open data?
• Berners-Lee (2010):
• One star open data is available on the web with an open
license.
• Two star data is also available as machine-readable structured
data.
• Three star data is also available in non-proprietary format such
as CSV instead of excel.
• Four star data also uses open standards from W3C (RDF and
SPARQL) to identify things, so that people can point at the
stuff in the dataset.
• Five star data contains all of the above and is also linked to
other people's data to provide context.
28.6.2016 3

4. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 4
Aim of this research
• What is the current state of open data in
tourism?
– Who are providing open data for tourism
purposes?
– For what purposes open data is used?
– What kind of benefits open data creates for
tourism industry?
28.6.2016 4

5. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 5
The study
• Keyword search in English in Google Scholar,
Google and Scopus.
• Relevant articles, databases and websites were
collected, listed and analysed regarding open
data connected to travel and tourism.
28.6.2016 5

6. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 6
Identified examples
• National and regional tourism statistics:
– European Union Open Data Portal https://open-
data.europa.eu/en/data 146 tourism data sets
– TourMis: http://www.tourmis.info/index_e.html
– Brussels:
http://opendata.brussels.be/page/home/?flg=e
n)
– Ottawa: http://data.ottawa.ca/en/
28.6.2016 6

7. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 7
Helsinki
• Helsinki Region Infoshare (www.hri.fi/en)
– more than 1000 data sets available.
– 56 datasets on the database are tagged with a tag
'tourism'.
• Events, places, sport sites, statistics, surveys, points-of-
interest.
728.6.2016

8. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 8
The results
Open data type Description Where data has been used
Geographic data GPS-locations Mobile applications, websites
Event data Description of events, bands playing,
timetables, even type
Mobile applications, websites
Visitor statistics Number of overnights Mobile applications, websites
Supply statistics Number of businesses, types of
businesses, number and information on
attractions and museums
Mobile applications, websites
Survey data Data from survey studies Mobile applications, websites, academic and
business research
Supply information Information on travel destinations,
attractions, restaurants and happenings.
Mobile applications, websites, academic and
business research
Transit data Timetables Mobile applications, websites
Governmental data Tax distribution and collection Mobile applications, websites, academic and
business research
All of the above Smart Tourism City, augmented reality
applications, services that combine data from
several sources.
28.6.2016 8

9. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 9
Conclusions
• Utilization of open data is still at the beginning in
the tourism industry.
• Open data in tourism is mainly provided by
destination management organizations and
governmental organizations.
• Open data is mainly used to provide content for
mobile applications and websites.
• Benefit are still limited for tourism industry, but
already some innovations can be found. 28.6.2016 9

10. ENTER 2016 Research Track Slide Number 10
Takeaways
• Internet of things combined with open
data could provide huge opportunities for
tourism industry
– Real-time management of destinations and
communicating that to customers.
• Every time new data is collected
possibilities for opening it should be at
least thought of.
28.6.2016 10

11. Questions or comments?
Thank you!
uef.fi
Juho.pesonen@uef.fi
https://uef.academia.ed
u/JuhoPesonen
www.twitter.com/eppuJ