The Smart Tourism Destinations Network is a tool for coordination and cooperation and an instrument to bring together and represent all tourism destinations that want to be recognized as Smart Tourism Destinations, as well as other essential agents, both public and private; in short, all those whose knowledge and field of work can contribute and add value to the development of Smart Tourism Destinations Programme.
Types of members according to the General Action Protocol of the Network
The Smart Tourism Destinations Network recognises three types of members, as set out in its General Action Protocol.
- Full members: Local government authorities, as defined in Spanish Law 7/1985, of 2 April, on the Basis of Local Governance, which have been recognized as a Smart Tourism Destination, or which have begun this process according to the methodology applied by SEGITTUR on behalf of the Spanish State Secretary for Tourism, by means of its diagnosis and action plan execution.
- Institutional members: Public Administrations and their bodies, organisations and entities not included in the abovementioned point, and associations, federations and groups of public administrations and/or entities relating to any Smart Tourism Destination which work in areas relating to the Smart Tourism Destination methodology.
- Collaborating members: Individuals or public or private entities not included in the previous categories, who due to their expertise and professional fields of action can add value to the development of the Smart Tourism Destinations.
Additionally, the Operation Regulations of the Smart Tourism Destinations management bodies (ES) include the figure of international observers, who do not have the right to speak or vote, but may participate in any working sessions and/or meetings organised by the Smart Tourism Destinations Network, provided their participation is not expressly excluded.
Members of the Network
Today, the Smart Tourism Destinations Network has 538 members, of which 386 are full members, 72 are institutional members, 74 are collaborating companies and 6 are international observers.
Access the list of members of the Smart Tourism Destinations Network
Full members must either be accredited as a Smart Tourism Destination or be in the process of conversion according to the Smart Tourism Destination Methodology, or commit to the development of a conversion strategy in the short term.
While membership does not currently entail any financial commitment, destinations that join the Smart Tourism Destinations Network confirm, upon applying, their commitment to initiate, in the short or medium term, the process of converting to a Smart Tourism Destination according to the methodology developed by the Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism by undertaking the corresponding diagnosis and action plan works, which do come with an associated cost. Under no circumstances does simple membership request to the Smart Tourism Destinations Network confers the Smart Tourism Destination recognition; rather, it is an initial commitment to ultimately becoming a destination operating under the Smart Tourism Destination model. Only those destinations that obtain a compliance degree equal to or higher than 80% regarding the requirements set out in the Smart Tourism Destination methodology receive the Smart Destination distinction, while those that have completed the diagnosis but achieved less than 80% are awarded the Smart Destination Associated distinction.
Membership of full members is approved by the Executive Committee.
Apply for full membership by completing the Membership Application Form for Full Members (ES) and agreeing to the Code of Ethics (ES).
Institutional members must be entities related to Smart Tourism Destinations, or otherwise working in areas related to the Smart Tourism Destination methodology.
Membership of the Smart Tourism Destination Network is approved by the Plenary Committee and has no associated costs.
Apply for institutional membership by completing the Membership Application Form for institutional members and agreeing to the Code of Ethics (ES).
Membership requests received from collaborating members are also approved by the Plenary Committee. For the application to be successful, the applicant must be undertaking a relevant project of interest alongside a full or institutional member in connection with the Smart Tourism Destination model. It is particularly important to highlight that membership of the Smart Tourism Destinations Network as a collaborating member does not imply any recommendation by SEGITTUR of the member company, nor any recommendation by the Smart Tourism Destinations Network itself. This is because their membership is conditional on the endorsement they receive from a full or institutional member of the network upon presenting a specific project that serves as a benchmark for other destinations.
Adhesion to the Smart Tourism Destination Network as a collaborating member lasts two years, though this may be extended by renewing any collaboration with one or more full members of the Network.
Request your membership as a collaborating member by completing the following documents:
- Membership Application form for collaborating members
- Collaboration agreement template between members
- Terms of membership for collaborating members
- and agreeing to the Code of Ethics (ES).