About the Showcase
Dublin has been awarded the 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism. This designation is a recognition of our commitment to deliver a greener, more accessible, inclusive and innovative Dublin, for both our visitors and locals. The Smart Tourism programme, established in 2019 has been sharing, collaborating, and learning from some of the best cities in Europe and embedding this best practice in our own work.
We plan to use this designation as a platform to deliver an innovative approach to support tourism for Dublin, as part of this approach we are inviting individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds to take part in the Dublin region’s Open Data Tourism Innovation Showcase. The Showcase aims at developing innovative ideas, solutions, prototypes or proof of concepts to unlock the potential of city open data to support tourism. Participants have an opportunity to Showcase their work, achieve recognition and attain prizes.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for solutions, which use open data for analyses, applications, tools, maps, etc. to drive or support the identified three goals that have shaped our tourism vision.
- Human: serves a people-centered and community-based growth agenda.
- Sustainable: is proactive, accountable and measurable toward our climate goals.
- Innovative: is future-facing, creative, collaborative and digitally-advanced.
How to apply?
This Showcase is open to individuals, teams and organisations of all ages and backgrounds. Applicants may also apply more than once with different ideas. Your solution or project may involve creating something new, or developing a pre-existing initiative or application.
Apply Here: Open Data Tourism Innovation Showcase Application Form
Application Deadline: Wednesday, 13th March, 2024, 23:59
Showcase Timeline
Applications close on Wednesday, 13th March 2024, 23:59. Successfully shortlisted participants will be informed and given time through the month of March to turn ideas into projects and develop and deliver their solutions at a Showcase event in April 2024. At the Showcase participants provide a short report and presentation of their work.
Where to find relevant data ?
Numerous datasets related to tourism factors are accessible through various portals. The national open data portal at www.data.gov.ie hosts significant holdings of data, while the Dublin region open data portal at data.smartdublin.ie provides datasets specifically relevant to Dublin. Additionally, the Dublin Economic Monitor, Fáilte Ireland and the European open data portal at data.europa.eu offers another potential resource for tourism-related data.
Depending on the proposal, relevant data sources might include: Air & Sea Access Data (CSO), Footfall Data (Dublinked), Hotel Date (Google Insights, Fáilte Ireland), Economic Indicators Data (Dublin Economic Monitor), Transport Data (NTA, CSO), Dublin Public Arts Data (data.gov.ie, Dublinked), Restaurant Data (Opentable), Cultural Spaces and Visitor Number Data ( Fáilte Ireland, Dublinked, CultureNearYou, OPW), Accessibility (Dublinked), Small Area Data (CSO), Environment and Climate Data (CSO, Met Eireann, local authority/ EPA, National Biodiversity Data Centre).
How will my entry be evaluated ?
While combining data from difference sources is welcome, entries must employ at least two open datasets from the Dublin region or National open data portals to qualify.
Once eligibility is confirmed, entrants will be evaluated on
- Showcasing the use of data including open data
- Impact potential for tourism
- Feasibility of proposal/practicality to deliver/capabilities of applicant(s)
- Originality/Innovation/Diversity
How will my Showcase be evaluated ?
Here are some key expectations:
Clear problem statement: Clearly articulate the problem you are trying to solve. This includes identifying the specific data Showcases that you are addressing, as well as the potential impact of solving those Showcases.
Use of open data: Judges will be looking for how open data (minimum two open datasets) form the basis of your analysis/project.
Innovative approach: Judges will be looking for innovative and creative approaches to the data Showcases at hand. This means thinking outside the box and exploring new ways to analyze, visualize, and make use of data.
Feasibility: Your idea should be feasible to implement within the given time frame of the hackathon, and with the available data and resources. Be realistic in your expectations, but also be willing to take risks and push boundaries.
Actionable insights: The end goal of a Showcase is to produce actionable insights that can be put to use in the real world. Judges will be looking for ideas that have the potential to generate meaningful and useful insights that can be applied to real-world problems.
Presentation skills: How you present your idea is just as important as the idea itself. Be clear and concise in your presentation, and use visuals and examples to help illustrate your points. Practice your pitch ahead of time, and be prepared to answer questions from judges and other participants.
Overall, the key to a successful pitch at a Showcase is to be creative, thoughtful, and passionate about your idea. Show your enthusiasm for the project, and be prepared to work collaboratively with others to bring your ideas to life.
Who are the Showcase organisers ?
This Showcase is organised by Dublin City Tourism Unit, the Open Data Offices of the Dublin Local Authorities (DLAs): Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin and Dublin City, Dublin City Council, Dublin City Culture Company and Smart Dublin.
Funding is provided by DPER’s Open Data Engagement Fund.
Prizes
The Showcase will bring together a group of incredibly innovative, technical and creative people. We are delighted to welcome our participants working collaboratively in teams to come up with new insights and ideas. The winners of each theme will receive up to €1,000 in prize funds. This is co-funded through the Open Data Initiative of the Department of Public Expenditure and Public Reform (DEPR).
Aside from recognition, prizes, and an opportunity to support tourism there may also be an opportunity but no obligation on the organisers to continue to engage with participants beyond the end of the Showcase.
Contact
If you have any queries or require more information please contact: info@smartdublin.ie