InnoGuide4CHT - Cross-border cooperation for the development of a joint innovative guiding solution for the expansion of visitor offers in open-air cultural heritage tourism facilities

Energie & Umwelt

Cultural heritage tourism (CHT) in Hungary and Austria is suffering from the effects of the Covid pandemic, which has led to declining visitor numbers and funding as well as delays in digitalisation and social inclusion. Open-air museums and similar institutions are particularly affected and need innovative solutions and cooperation to increase their competitiveness and preserve cultural heritage. The project focuses on improving staff skills, developing modern visitor services and promoting social inclusion in order to reach new target groups.

Acronym

InnoGuide4CHT

Project running time

01/05/2024 - 31/10/2026

Cultural heritage tourism (CHTs) organisations in Hungary and Austria are facing significant challenges, particularly due to the impact of the Covid pandemic. This has led to drastic declines in visitor numbers, revenue and funding, as well as delays in digitalisation and social inclusion.

Cultural heritage tourism is economically and socially important, strengthens regional identity and helps to preserve cultural heritage. Open-air museums, which face major challenges due to their infrastructure and organisation, are particularly affected. In the AT-HU programme region, there are around 16 open-air museums and many similar institutions such as castles and palaces. These institutions make a significant contribution to tourism and economic value creation, but do not have the necessary resources to overcome the current challenges on their own.

The project focuses on the following areas:

Employee competences: There is a lack of skills in innovation management, digital product development and social inclusion. Specialised training for CHT employees will be developed and tested with at least 16 participants.
Visitor offers: The attractiveness for digital-savvy and impaired target groups is low. Knowledge transfer is to be modernised through new storytelling content, a digital visitor guidance system and XR technologies.
Social inclusion and accessibility: Workshops with representatives of the target group "people with disabilities" are intended to identify needs and incorporate them into new visitor offerings. AR films with sign language and texts in simple language are being developed.
Visitor groups: Cross-border visitor exchange is low. Co-operations, networks and multilingual offers are intended to open up new visitor groups.