In 2020, Arctur, with co-financing from the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, prepared a handbook entitled Digital Innovation of Cultural Heritage: A Handbook for Tourist Destinations. This was followed by the creation of a unique national online portal, Digital Innovation of Cultural Heritage (DIKD). The portal presents the results of Arctur’s cooperation with 31 leading Slovenian tourist destinations in the process of digitally innovating cultural heritage. As part of this cooperation, as many as 118 3D models of Slovenian cultural heritage were created, along with numerous short films, 360-degree photographs, 360-degree videos and other multimedia materials.
The DIKD portal provides simple and fast access to complex 3D models without the need for special software, using standard computers or mobile devices. The portal is among the most technologically advanced of its kind, even at European level, as it enables the storage, viewing and management of large 3D models. Users can explore the rich collection, view a map, or access details about individual models and cultural heritage units. As such, the DIKD portal encourages the use of 3D models for promotional, research, educational and other purposes.
Arctur and the participating tourist destinations combined cultural heritage interpretation, tourism product development and digital technologies in the process of digital innovation, creating numerous unique tourist experiences. The digital innovation of Plečnik’s heritage, developed by Arctur for Tourism Ljubljana, impressed the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), receiving third place in the category “Digitalisation of Sustainable Cultural Tourism towards Smart Destinations”. The experience also received the Slovenia Unique Experiences label, awarded by the Slovenian Tourist Board, and won first place in the Tourism category at the WEBSI 2022 digital excellence awards in Slovenia.
The innovative five-star experiences Secrets of the Sunken Villages and Flight into the Tannery of Europe, developed by the Šalek Valley Tourism Institute with the support of Arctur, were also awarded the Slovenia Unique Experiences label by the Slovenian Tourist Board and received the international BIG SEE award. Velika planina is known not only for its hiking and winter activities, but also for its herdsmen’s settlement and its digital innovation. At the Kamnik Tourist Information Centre, visitors can experience the beauty and uniqueness of Velika planina through a 360-degree VR flight.
Many impressive examples of 3D models of Slovenian cultural heritage and unique tourist experiences can be explored here.
From pioneers to experts, Slovenia is becoming one of the leading countries in Europe in the systematic digital innovation of cultural heritage, creating unique tourist experiences in cooperation with Arctur.
“Tourism 4.0 is not only about technology, but also about people and their experience of travel in both the physical and digital world.”
Urška Starc-Peceny, Head of Tourism 4.0, Arctur
“Through innovative co-creation and technology, we are changing the perception of tourism and the business sector surrounding it.”
Tomi Ilijaš, CEO and Founder, Arctur
