At the opening of the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS2026) in Seville, Manuel Gavira, the regional government’s second vice-president and minister for Tourism, Justice, Deregulation and Local Administration, said tourism innovation focused on concrete results and data-based management were key to the destination’s competitiveness.
Gavira backed technological transformation in the tourism industry to strengthen businesses, improve destination management and extend the opportunities generated by tourism across Andalusia. “Competition is advancing, visitors are advancing and our businesses need answers,” he said. He added that public administrations should be ambitious, make decisions using reliable information and provide tools the sector can use, citing initiatives such as Andalucía Nexus.
He described Andalusia’s position in the tourism market as based on its heritage, diversity, talent and business community. He said the region’s offer builds excellence through the daily work of teams, risk-taking, innovation and overcoming difficulties. Innovation, he added, should serve the sector’s development goals, and each initiative should be assessed for its practical value in solving problems, supporting the sector and improving decision-making by businesses, destinations and the administration.
Gavira urged the industry to connect data, artificial intelligence, promotion, training and knowledge of the region to anticipate trends, better target campaigns and support decisions by businesses and destinations. He said the transformation should reach tourism professionals and the whole region. Coastal areas, historic cities and inland municipalities have different circumstances and require tailored responses, he said, while residents should see tourism contributing to their surroundings, sustaining opportunities and respecting community life.
He also called for rigour in adopting artificial intelligence, based on reliable data, expert oversight and practical applications. Its value, he said, should be measured by its ability to save time, improve analysis and strengthen professionals’ work. Gavira called for collaboration among businesses, public administrations, universities, knowledge centres and entrepreneurs to put ideas and solutions discussed at TIS into practice across the sector.
TIS2026 runs in Seville through October 8 and brings together about 8,000 professionals and more than 200 exhibiting companies. They are presenting solutions to industry challenges, including artificial intelligence systems, data-analysis strategies, automation tools, cybersecurity and sustainable innovation. The event’s talks and discussions feature about 400 international experts and showcase technologies intended to help professionals understand changing traveller demands, improve the visitor experience and optimise tourism business management.