When research sets the course: Knowledge platform for tourism SH

The Schleswig-Holstein 2030 tourism strategy sets clear goals for the further development of tourism. The strategy formulates the vision for the state of becoming a “pioneer and role model for sustainable, responsible, quality tourism”. Implementation management at TA.SH (Tourismus Agentur Schleswig-Holstein) is to help implement the objectives of the tourism strategy. One component of the tourism strategy is the creation of a knowledge platform that promotes exchange between stakeholders and serves as a central point of contact for information.

The path to a successful preliminary project began with an intensive research phase. After all, a user-centered approach doesn't mean imagining the users – it means talking to them!

During a visit to the Schleswig-Holstein Tourism Day in Büsum, important insights into the industry were gained and the online survey was promoted. A total of 74 people took part.

In addition, the needs and expectations of future users were recorded in over 540 minutes of in-depth interviews with representatives from the tourism industry. These in-depth discussions gave us important insights into the challenges and requirements of the tourism industry in Schleswig-Holstein. This made it possible to understand how the platform can support daily work and which features are most important from the stakeholders’ point of view.

Based on the findings, six principles were derived that form the basis for the knowledge platform. These are based on the real needs of users and ensure that the platform is not only functional, but also long-lasting and user-friendly. The principles are: Central source of information, digital transformation, broad accessibility, practical content, user-friendliness and targeted networking.

In the next step, the collected requirements were transferred into an implementation concept. Particular attention was paid to which features and functions offer the greatest added value. The prioritization of the 35 identified features was based on urgency, feasibility and benefit for the users. 11 of the features are “need-to-haves”, i.e. they form the core functions of the platform. A further 11 features are “should-haves”, i.e. important but not immediately necessary features. Additional 13 features were identified as “nice-to-haves”. These are features that could be re-evaluated in the future and integrated in expansion stages.

The concept developed in the preliminary project forms the cornerstone for the upcoming main project. We are delighted to have been involved in the preliminary project and look forward with curiosity to the future of the new knowledge platform for Schleswig-Holstein tourism!