BayernCloud
Discovering undiscovered destinations, enjoying trips without traffic jams and visiting museums without queuing – all this is set to be made possible by BayernCloud Tourism. The central data hub serves as an information hub where tourism service providers and destinations can access relevant information anytime, anywhere, and use or provide it in their own offerings.
The project is based on the idea of an open, transparent and secure digital ecosystem in which data and services are made available and shared. BayernCloud Tourism is being developed as a federated cloud infrastructure and thus follows the basic principles of the European GAIA-X project in its design.
The research project was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi) and completed in 2021. Since then, the newly established Digitalisation Competence Centre at Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH has been coordinating its continuation and practical implementation.
Efforts to digitally transform Bavarian tourism have been gaining momentum for several years now. The pandemic, if nothing else, has highlighted just how great the demand is for holidays within the region. Overcrowded attractions and long traffic jams at Bavarian lakes and in the mountains have made it clear that a conscious, sustainable and digital approach to managing visitor flows is essential.
At the same time, many tourism providers in Bavaria previously lacked digital tools, shared data infrastructures or compatible systems. This made it difficult to offer visitors a seamless and up-to-date digital experience. Against this backdrop, BayernCloud Tourism was created as a federated data platform that enables secure data exchange whilst preserving data sovereignty and regional autonomy.
The platform is designed to intelligently network tourism information in order to better meet the needs of guests. For example, it allows users to discover new destinations, check hut occupancy rates or plan journeys more efficiently. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Bavarian tourism sector, including huts, restaurants and hotels, stand to benefit particularly from the application.
The aim of the project was to lay the foundations for shared data processing and to identify the necessary partners, structures and technical components. Building on this, Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH (BayTM) is continuing to develop the BayernCloud Tourismus in collaboration with fortiss. This will create a digital ecosystem for Bavarian tourism designed to increase the uptake of cloud-based solutions among SMEs, reduce costs and make processes more efficient.
fortiss developed the reference architecture and platform concept for BayernCloud Tourism as the basis for a scalable, interoperable and modular cloud infrastructure. The project serves as a framework for establishing a digital platform ecosystem (DPÖ) that enables the intelligent exchange of information and resources, as well as the networking of tourism stakeholders and SMEs.
The architecture supports federated data management and allows tourism stakeholders across Bavaria to publish and integrate digital services – ranging from real-time event calendars to local mobility services. To develop practical application scenarios, various use cases, such as family holidays in the mountains, were analysed and the necessary data foundations were developed in collaboration with tourism stakeholders.
In addition, fortiss developed implementation guidelines, evaluated pilot regions such as the Allgäu, and facilitated dialogue with stakeholders to balance openness, governance and scalability. The concept ensures that even smaller local authorities and businesses can participate in the platform without requiring significant IT investment. At the same time, as a reference architecture, BayernCloud Tourism lays the foundation for a transferable, cross-sector concept for digital platform ecosystems.
The aim of BayernCloud Tourism is to strengthen Bavarian tourism in the long term by establishing an open, digital infrastructure that facilitates innovation and new business models. Under the leadership of BayTM, this initiative is creating a central data hub for tourism marketing and destination management in Bavaria. In future, tourism service providers will be able to use the information provided as a basis for their own digital applications and services.
BayernCloud Tourismus already forms the technical backbone of Bavaria’s digital tourism strategy. Initial pilot applications, including some in the Allgäu region, are already in use, with further regions set to follow. Through common standards and interoperable interfaces, regional stakeholders can develop and integrate visitor-friendly apps and digital services more quickly – ranging from event listings to mobility solutions. The federated and modular architecture ensures scalability without restricting the local autonomy or data sovereignty of the participating stakeholders.
With a view to practical implementation, the fortiss final report comprehensively documents the project results and sets out specific recommendations for action regarding the organisational structure of a cross-sectoral, networked data infrastructure, as well as for the technical development of BayernCloud Tourism. Furthermore, fortiss developed not only the reference architecture, but also guidelines for implementation and strategies for engaging the relevant stakeholders.
The project serves as an example of how research-based and participatory development can contribute to the success of scalable digital public infrastructures. At the same time, BayernCloud Tourism is regarded as a transferable model for future state-wide or nationwide platform solutions – even beyond the tourism sector.
fortiss implemented the project between 2018 and 2021 together with Kempten University, Outdooractive AG, destination.one and Allgäu GmbH and with the support of Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH (BayTM).
Using the research results as a foundation, the platform will continue to be implemented under the direction of BayTM, the official tourism marketing organization for Bavaria.
