The German National Tourist Board (DZT) celebrates a significant milestone as the Knowledge Graph for German tourism is launched. This collaborative project provides comprehensive and up-to-date data to global distribution platforms, tourism service providers, and startups. With over 200,000 high-quality records, including 100,000 tourist attractions and 100,000 infrastructure details, the Knowledge Graph integrates data from all 16 federal states, fostering innovation and enhancing Germany's competitive edge in the global tourism market.

Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at DZT points out that the Knowledge Graph is a game-changer for the digital future of tourism, driving the digital transformation of the mediumsized tourism sector in Germany. This ground-breaking data infrastructure project aligns with the National Tourism Strategy, positioning Germany at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry. The project aligns with the German government's data strategy, promoting responsible data usage and data literacy. The Knowledge Graph empowers destination management organizations (DMOs) and local tourism organizations (LTOs) to redefine their roles and embrace data management.. Real-time data enables businesses to develop intelligent, customer-centric services, positioning Germany as a top travel destination. 

Looking ahead, the project aims to strengthen Germany's competitiveness in the global tourism market. Key objectives include distributing data to potential users, leveraging the Knowledge Graph for AI-powered applications, and integrating mobility data for sustainable travel offerings. The Open Data Tourism Alliance (ODTA) will foster cross-border collaboration to develop shared tourism data standards. Petra Hedofer emphasized that the Knowledge Graph's launch ensures sustainable, competitive, and future-oriented international tourism. The DZT plans to organize a collaborative event (Hackathon) in the fall to explore concrete application examples. 

For more information, visit open-data-germany.org.

 

About the Project

The Knowledge Graph project was initiated by the DZT in collaboration with state tourism organizations, the Magic Cities, Amadeus, the German Convention Bureau, academic representatives, and other tourism partners. This project collects, structures, licenses, connects, and enriches data to empower businesses to develop innovative, customer-oriented services. 

Important Project Milestones: 

• Late 2018: Agreement to implement a centralized open data project 
• 2019: Comprehensive audit of data types, quality, and access rights 
• 2020: Technical design of the Knowledge Graph
• 2021: Establishment of the Open Data Tourism Alliance 
• July 2022: Technical completion and testing phase with initial partners
• June 2023: Going live with the Knowledge Graph