The document summarizes the background and establishment of the Tourism and Leisure Science and Technology Park (PCT) in Vila-seca, Tarragona, Spain. It was launched in 2010 through collaboration between the Rovira i Virgili University, local government, and business associations to promote tourism innovation and knowledge transfer in the region. The PCT provides facilities, programs, and services to support R&D and innovation for tourism and leisure businesses through cooperation between industry and academia. Its goals are to become an international hub for tourism knowledge and create an environment that supports tourism and leisure R&D and investment.

1. Vila-seca, June 2011

2. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Founders
SCIENCE AND
URV
Vila-seca Town
Hotel and Catering Business
Association of the Province
TECHNOLOGY
Council
of Tarragona PARK FOR
TOURISM
AND LEISURE
Associate member of the Xpcat, the Network of Science and Technology Parks of Catalonia

3. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Background (I)
Over 10 years ago public and private institutions in Tarragona together with the Rovira i
Virgili University launched a strategy for the creation of innovative platforms to
develop and share tourism knowledge.
1998
Launch of the Municipal Tourism Assistance Service financed by the Tarragona
Tourism Board and administered by the Research Group on Territorial Analysis
and Tourism Studies (GRATET) at the URV.
1999
Creation of the Costa Daurada Tourism Studies Foundation (FETCD).
2001
Launch of the Costa Daurada Tourism Observatory, created by FETCD.
The URV's Strategic Research Plan targets the tourism sector as a university priority for further
development.
2002
Creation of the URV's University School of Tourism and Leisure.

4. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Background (II)
2003
Proposal for the creation of a centre for cooperation between universities and
businesses with the Hotel and Tourism Business Association of the Province of
Tarragona.
2005
Constitution of the Costa Daurada Science and Technology Park company (a
limited company) to provide impetus for a technology centre for tourism and
leisure.
Ministry of Education and Science approves financing for the company's
proposed centre.
2007
Implementation of the Vertical Policies Programme for tourism research
advanced by the URV and the Tourism and Leisure PCT, with the participation of
URV research groups.

5. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Background (III)
2009 and 2010
Tourism and leisure is one of the five strategic areas in which the Campus of
International Excellence Southern Catalonia (CEICS), backed by the URV,
concentrates its efforts.
This CEICS project qualifies as a Campus of International excellence in 2010 in the
regional category.
2010
The Tourism and Leisure PCT facilities and the Vila-seca URV campus are officially
inaugurated in June.

6. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Mission
To become an international knowledge-
economy hub for the sector and to create an
ideal environment for R&D&i investment in
tourism and leisure.

7. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Principles
 To promote sustainability and competitiveness amongst tourist destinations,
businesses and resources
 To ensure independence and excellence
 To promote cooperation within the tourism and leisure sector (culture,
commerce, events, sports)
 To involve professionals in the sector in R&D&i
 To focus programmes on long- and medium-term projects (74% strategic
research and innovation + 25% tactical research)
 To promote the creation of tourist information systems that are useful and
efficient
 To implement a technology programme to promote the
development of content and management tools, to take advantage
of social networks and mobile technologies, and to design
experiences and manage transport systems.

8. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Services
M eeting room s
Telephone
Science Equipment
Cooperation
community Internet &
furnishings
I nnovation
CLUSTER Classroom
“To promote the creation and growth of innovative
businesses using incubation and spin-off mechanisms
and to provide other value-added services as well as
high-quality facilities and spaces.” International
Association of Science Parks (IASP)

9. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Development of
programmes for innovation
Consortium for Increasing -Obtaining competitive public
financing for applied research
Competitiveness in Tourism and
(ERDF, Avanza, INTERREG, etc.)
Leisure in the Counties of
Tarragona -Knowledge transfer programmes
Costa Daurada
Tourism Studies Foundation Costa Daurada Tourism Observatory
(FETCD)

10. Tourism and Leisure PCT: R&D&I programmes (I)
Information systems: data for situation analysis and characterisation of demand
on a scale of local destinations
Situational analysis
Characterisation of demand
Market intelligence: knowledge instruments for public and private entities
Market Programme
Think Tank Programme
Enotur Programme

11. Tourism and Leisure PCT: R&D&I programmes (II)
Knowledge transfer: added value for the sector
Competitiveness plans
Strategic plans
In-company administrative and management training
E-learning
Product manuals
Products: development of innovative initiatives
Wine Country
The Landscape of the Geniuses
Technology: technological applications for administration and tourist satisfaction
Platform programme
E-business Programme
Tracking Programme
SIGTur Programme

12. Tourism and Leisure PCT: Facilities
Rovira i Virgili University (URV), together with the Vila-seca Town Council and
the Hotel and Catering Business Association of the Province of Tarragona, have
led the effort to build the Tourism and Leisure PCT with an investment of 2.8
million euros – financed through the public funding programme for science and
technology park infrastructure (Convocatoria de Infraestructuras de Parques
Científicos yTecnológicos) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The URV later transferred the facilities to the development company of the
Science and Technology Park for Tourism and Leisure.

13. Conclusion: Innovation as a strategy
BUSINESS
Competitive
value based
on knowledge
Technology
services
Innovation • Cooperation as a response to the needs of
services innovation
• Network integration as a system to improve
UNIVERSITY governance of the tourist destination
oResearchers • Generation and diffusion of knowledge
oTeaching staff globally
oSpecialised research groups
•Knowledge (research + innovation +
development) as a component of tourism
excellence at the destination

14. +34 977 394 871
info@pct-turisme.cat
www.pct-turisme.cat
Feel free to contact us at:
Tourism and Leisure PCT
@PCT_Turismo