Promoting slow tourism through FOSS4G Web Mapping: an Italian-Swiss case study

Slow tourism defines a sustainable way of experiencing a territory based on environmentally-friendly forms of transportation, the appreciation of nature and the rediscovery of local cultural traditions. Advancements in geo-information technology have opened new possibilities for promoting this practice. A slow tourism ongoing project focused on the cross-border area between Italy and Switzerland is presented. Several FOSS4G-based Web Mapping applications are developed which address different users and feature different functionalities. The applications include: a mobile app allowing tourists to report Points of Interest (POIs) along the paths; a mobile app enabling professionals to survey new paths; a traditional 2D Web viewer providing access to and interaction with the project data; an application offering a virtual tour along the paths; and a virtual-globe based 3D viewer with participative functionalities.