Digital magical journeys: Tourism competition: Finalists announced

As a visitor to Berlin, where can I find events that I personally would like to attend? How did Potsdamer Platz look in the past? And how can I shop in my own language as a Chinese tourist in the German capital? The five finalists Ask Helmut (personal event guide), DGMK (interactive journey through time at Potsdamer Platz using QR codes), Edaole (shopping guide in Mandarin), TimeRift Tours (three-dimensional virtual reality tours) and Urban Totem (links tourist to shops in their vicinity) have the digital answers to these questions.

The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize of 50,000 euros. The companies ranking second and third will receive 30,000 euros respectively 20,000 euros. The competition is funded with <link https://www.berlin.de/tourismus/infos/3298255-1721039-city-tax-fuer-berlintouristen-tritt-in-k.html>City Tax</link> revenues. The Senate Department organises the competition in cooperation with Axel Springer Plug and Play Accelerator. In addition, Start Tourism UP is supported by ITB Berlin, Verband Internet Reisevertrieb (Association for Internet Travel Sales), Berlin Startup Unit, traffics, and Travel Massive.

Senator Cornelia Yzer said that it's not just about Berlin as a "digital metropolis" presenting "digital solutions" for the tourism industry. The competition is also intended to "create scalable solutions with an initial focus on Berlin, with other locations benefiting from these solutions later on."