PROJECT
Background information on the Open Data project
In the long run, the cross-border availability of high-quality tourism data is essential if Germany, as a tourist destination, is to maintain and expand its position and compete internationally. By opening up data and engaging in a cross-border and cross-organisational dialogue, service providers and DMOs can position themselves along the value chain that has changed as a result of digital transformation.
Therefore, the expansion of digitalisation in the tourism industry as well as the general promotion of digital innovations is a top priority.
The Open Data Project
In order to efficiently use the possibilities of digital technologies – for example artificial intelligence – data must be merged from the different silos, detectable and machine-readable in a consistent structure. With this goal in mind, the state tourism organizations (LTOs), Magic Cities and the GNTB have joined forces to form the Open Data/Knowledge Graph project for Germany as a tourism destination.
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Open Data creates the preconditions for the digital transformation towards artificial intelligence. Thus, we are securing Germany as a tourism location, strengthening its competitiveness, and particularly promoting tourism regions as well as digital innovations in tourism and beyond.
Last but not least, we increase the brand presence of the Destination Germany at home and abroad. The objectives in detail:
- Usage of opportunities created by new technologies
- Marketing and branding of Germany abroad
- Securing Germany as a tourism location within its European competition
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The project is divided into three sections: audit, design and implementation.
Within the scope of an audit, the current status was analysed professionally and in detail. Data types, content types and technical systems used by the involved partners were examined and evaluated with regard to their usability in a graph database.
In the second section, the conception of the Knowledge Graph for the tourism location Germany was formulated on the basis of technical requirements, statements on operation and quality assurance.
With the conversion, the system is set up technically and the prerequisites for data integration and data export are created. The Knowledge Graph has been accessible to the public since June 2023.
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With the implementation of the Open Data/Knowledge Graph project, work is underway with state marketing organizations (LMOs) and Magic Cities to integrate tourism data. Here, the data types relevant for tourism POIs, tours and events are prioritized.
Around 500,000 current data records are currently available. These include around 180,000 tourist objects (POIs, tours, events, restaurants, hotels, etc.) and a further 300,000 infrastructure data records. The integration of additional partners and data is ongoing.
An up-to-date overview of the data already integrated as open data can be found on the map of Germany.
If you would like to search for specific tourism datasets, please use the search widget.
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The project group involves the GNTB, the Landesmarketingorganisationen (federal state marketing organisations) and the Magic Cities. The GNTB is Germany’s national tourist board promoting Germany as a travel destination abroad on behalf of the Federal Government. All over the world, the GNTB promotes Germany’s touristic diversity and thereby one of the biggest and most attractive brands – Germany as a travel destination.
Marketing at federal state level is the responsibility of the respective LMO (federal state marketing organisation) as well as the regional bodies established under them. The Magic Cities Germany marketing organization is also involved in the project. They have joined forces to promote the ten largest German cities in selected overseas markets.
DATA CALL
The ODTA
The Open Data Tourism Alliance (ODTA) develops common standards for structured tourism data based on schema.org. The aim is to make content from different systems interoperable, machine-readable and future-proof. To this end, the ODTA defines tourism domain specifications and makes them available centrally. This creates the basis for AI applications, digital assistants and networked tourism platforms.
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The ODTA is a transnational initiative of tourism organizations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It pools expertise in order to structure tourism data in a standardized way and make it internationally compatible. It is based on the schema.org standard, which is used worldwide for structured web data.
Through common specifications, the ODTA improves data quality, visibility and reusability – for destinations, technology partners and digital innovations in tourism.
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The ODTA develops and publishes Tourism Domain Specifications as binding guidelines for structured tourism data. It identifies standardization gaps, develops extensions for schema.org and contributes these to international committees.
It also promotes the exchange of expertise on semantic technologies, knowledge graphs and AI applications. The aim is to create an open, interoperable data ecosystem that enables innovation and strengthens the digital competitiveness of tourism.
Admission of further members is possible any time.
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The ODTA is further developing its organizational structure in order to meet the increasing importance of AI and international data requirements. The project group unites national and regional tourism organizations and intensifies Europe-wide cooperation.
It is responsible for the further development of the 24 Domain Specifications, strengthens communication and partner participation and promotes the anchoring of open, semantic data standards in Europe. The aim is to achieve greater visibility in search engines, AI applications and third-party platforms as well as sovereign, interoperable data sharing along the tourism value chain.
Further information can be found at www.odta.io.
