The Town Hall of Estepa has hosted a key meeting to develop a mobile gamification application that will promote the tourist resources of eleven municipalities in the region, with an investment of €300,000.
The project, framed within Action 3.6 of the Integrated Action Plan (PAI) of Estepa, has a budget of €300,000 and will be executed by INPRO, the Provincial Computing Society of the Diputación de Sevilla. The application will offer challenges, missions, and thematic itineraries to discover the heritage of the area.
The meeting, chaired by the mayor of Estepa, Antonio Jesús Muñoz Quirós, brought together mayors, councillors, and tourism technicians from the municipalities integrated into the Functional Urban Area: Aguadulce, Badolatosa, Casariche, Estepa, Gilena, Herrera, Lora de Estepa, Marinaleda, Pedrera, La Roda de Andalucía, and El Rubio. Representatives from INPRO, such as Rafael Piña, Sara Trujillo, and Carmen Cuello, also participated.
A tool for locals and visitors
The future app will allow users to explore the historical, cultural, natural, and gastronomic heritage of the region through gaming dynamics. It will include rewards and digital badges, as well as multimedia content, an events calendar, and integration with social networks. The aim is to foster a more participative and immersive tourist experience.
During the meeting, municipal representatives contributed proposals to identify routes, festivals, traditions, and unique elements of each locality. Each town hall will collaborate in defining content that reflects its identity, ensuring that the application is a true reflection of the regional diversity.
“This application will allow us to reach a younger and more digital audience while valuing our heritage in an innovative way,” highlighted the mayor of Estepa.
Impact on local tourism
The initiative aims to increase the destination's appeal, promote the de-seasonalisation of visits, and boost local commerce and hospitality. Additionally, it will provide useful information to improve the territory's promotional strategies, as explained by INPRO technicians.
For the residents of Estepa and the region, this tool will represent a new way to rediscover their surroundings, with personalised itineraries that they can share on social media. The forecast is that the app will be operational in the coming months, once the data collection and technical development work is completed.
A step towards sustainable tourism
With this project, the municipalities of the PAI of Estepa are moving towards a more innovative, sustainable, and connected tourism model. Gamification is presented as an effective tool to attract a type of traveller seeking unique and participative experiences.
The attendees agreed that inter-municipal collaboration is key to the success of the initiative. The Diputación de Sevilla, through INPRO, brings its experience in digital transformation to ensure that the application meets the necessary technical and usability standards.
The mayor of Estepa encouraged residents to actively participate in the design phase, suggesting places and activities they consider emblematic. “We want this app to be for everyone and by everyone,” he concluded.
