Launch of AI-Based Visitor Services in the Eifel
:Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Ebling Visited the Teufelsschlucht Dinosaur Park to Present the Grant Award Notice

With the ERDF project “Virtual Tourist Information—AI-Based Guest Advisory Service,” the Southern Eifel and the Gerolstein Region are taking a major step toward modern, digital guest information. On August 5, as part of his summer tour, Michael Ebling, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Energy, and Climate, personally presented the grant award letter for this forward-looking project to the project partners at the Teufelsschlucht Dinosaur Park in Ernzen.

Five tourism organizations in the Eifel region are joining forces to establish a new information and advisory infrastructure for locals and visitors. At the heart of the project is an AI-based, multilingual visitor advisory service. A digital assistant helps users find the right experiences—from tour recommendations with tips on where to stop for a bite to eat, to family-friendly activities, and accessible excursion options. It draws on the collective expertise of the Eifel tourism professionals involved and the tourist information teams, and is constantly updated with the latest data. 

Digital information kiosks serve as virtual tourist information centers, providing guests and locals alike with round-the-clock information on attractions, events, hiking and biking trails, lodging options, and dining. All services, including the voice-based chatbot, can also be conveniently accessed via a user’s own smartphone. 

Partners in this forward-looking project include Felsenland Südeifel Tourismus GmbH, the Bitburger Land Vacation Region Association, the Prüm Municipal Association / Prümer Land Tourist Information Office, the Arzfeld Municipal Association / Islek Tourist Information Office, and Touristik GmbH Gerolsteiner Land. With this digital initiative, the stakeholders aim to further improve the qualityof tourism offerings and services in the region, while also specifically increasing local economicvalue; the advisory service is designed not only to inform but also to strengthen local businesses in a way that generates economic value. This flagship project aims to sustainably strengthen rural areas and can help alleviate pressure on sensitive natural and cultural areas through intelligent information and visitor management.

The indoor and outdoor information kiosks will be installed at 18 selected locations in Hillesheim, Gerolstein, Bitburg, Kyllburg, Speicher, Biersdorf am See, Waxweiler, Prüm, Bleialf, Schönecken, Körperich, Mettendorf, Neuerburg, Ernzen (Teufelsschlucht Dinosaur Park), Irrel, and Echternacherbrück. 

At the Dinosaur Park Teufelsschlucht, as part of the Minister of Economic Affairs’ “Discovery Tour,” Mayor Anna Carina Krebs welcomed numerous invited guests for the presentation of the grant notification. Following the presentation of the grant notification for approximately one million euros, Minister of Economic Affairs Ebling visited the “PaleoLab” at the Dinosaur Park to view the sensational discovery of Rhineland-Palatinate’s first dinosaur, which the park’s team had uncovered during an excavation near the Irrel Waterfalls and presented to the public in April.

Project Information: “Virtual Tourist Information – AI-Based Visitor Information”

The “Virtual Tourist Information – AI-Based Visitor Guidance” project is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of Rhineland-Palatinate as part of the “Public Tourism Infrastructure – Tourism 4.0” funding program. The total cost is approximately 1.18 million euros, of which 1,005,420.19 euros is funded by the ERDF and state funds; the participating project partners cover their own share. The project sponsor is Felsenland Südeifel Tourismus GmbH.