On 9–10 June 2026, the Valletta Design Cluster in Malta became the focal point for Mediterranean tourism innovation as project partners gathered for the TOURISMO Final Conference and Steering Committee meeting to present three years of concrete results in visitor flow management.
As Mediterranean hotspots face growing pressure from urbanisation, climate change, and booming visitor numbers, the event showcased how data-driven technology can preserve cultural heritage and enhance local quality of life. From thermal cameras and IoT sensors to AI, attendees explored how innovative solutions have been successfully deployed to manage tourism flows across eight Mediterranean pilot sites. This collaborative effort to strengthen sustainable tourism governance across the region was also enriched by the presence of Flora Leroy, Senior EU Programmes Officer at the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions – Intermediterranean Commission (CPMR-IMC)
The conference also spotlighted the Florence Pilot, with a presentation from our very own Franca Fauci representing the Foundation for Research and Innovation (FRI). Franca took the stage to introduce the strategic framework of the project to the wider audience, paving the way for the technical insights of Professor Paolo Nesi from the University of Florence (DISIT Lab), who demonstrated how AI and thermal data processing are actively creating more efficient visitor tracking in historic city centres.
From monitoring cruise passenger movements in Valencia and tracking beach attendance in Malta, to drone-mapping in Bulgaria and smart monitoring in the sensitive destinations of Croatia, Greece, and Cyprus, the event proved that the future of Mediterranean tourism relies on smart, collaborative, and data-driven solutions.
Following the public sessions, the Steering Committee meeting allowed partners to evaluate these pilot activities, discuss the long-term sustainability of the results, and coordinate the upcoming Test-to-Transfer phase to ensure the solutions are adopted wider across Europe.
