DATA4Rural Project Meeting in Brno

18.09.2026Sparks

The digital transformation of rural tourism depends on more than access to new technologies. It also requires relevant knowledge, practical skills and the ability to use data effectively in everyday operations, tourism product development and decision-making.

From 15 to 17 September 2026, the DATA4Rural project partners gathered in Brno for their second in-person project meeting. The programme combined project coordination, updates on ongoing activities and joint planning for the next stages of implementation. A key part of the meeting was dedicated to the development of the DATA4Rural training programme and the next steps towards its practical implementation.

Hosted at Masaryk University, the meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to test the project's training approach in practice. Partners delivered a demonstration of a training module to prospective lecturers, followed by an interactive World Café workshop. This participatory format enabled lecturers and project partners to exchange feedback, discuss the proposed learning approach and identify practical improvements for the further development of the modules.

DATA4Rural aims to strengthen digital and data-management skills in rural tourism. The project partners are developing a practical training programme and an open e-learning platform for tourism businesses, destinations, policymakers and other rural stakeholders.

The experiences and challenges identified through project activities will help shape learning content that is clear, practical and adapted to the realities of rural areas. The goal is not simply to introduce digital tools, but to demonstrate how they can be applied in tourism businesses, product development and destination-management activities.

DATA4Rural is now moving from the exploration of rural tourism challenges towards the development and testing of concrete learning materials and digital solutions. The Brno meeting highlighted an important principle behind the project: effective use of data requires more than technology alone. It depends on the right combination of knowledge, practical tools and collaboration, enabling rural tourism stakeholders to make more informed decisions and respond more effectively to local needs.