Smart Data for Smarter Tourism

Smart Data for Smarter Tourism is a pilot research project carried out by Smart Data Foundry in partnership with Capital City Partnership, TravelTech for Scotland and Workforce Mobility. The project explored how bringing together different types of data could support more coordinated planning around large events in Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland. With rising visitor numbers creating increasing pressure on transport systems and accommodation availability, the research combined real-world data such as event attendance, travel times and accommodation listings to model potential scenarios where multiple events take place at the same time. These scenarios helped identify points of pressure on local infrastructure and suggested areas where better coordination or improved transport connections could ease demand. Although this was an exploratory project, it demonstrates how data can be used to support more informed decision-making in tourism, transport, and regional planning. It may help deliver more sustainable and inclusive outcomes in the future.