In this project highlight, we take a look at tourism in Oman. As a tourist, we usually choose a destination to visit based on culture, natural environment, a good climate, or interesting sights. Perhaps surprisingly, detecting the number and mobility patterns of tourists in one region or city is no easy job. While different datasets can give us an estimate, it is hard to get the full picture of the situation.

Making cities more sustainable, liveable and inclusive is an urgent task as two thirds of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2030. We are living in the age of information and communication technology – every day we are generating and taking advantage of the big data available using navigation apps, shopping online or using transport and logistics services. What is more, countries and cities can make more informed decisions based on data. One great example is Estonia where cities strive to be smart not only in solutions but in the way of thinking. Estonia’s data-driven urban environments will be showcased at the Dubai Expo 2020 from 9 to 13 January.

At the South-Eastern-most corner of Estonia, there lives a people whose mystical language, enchanting leelo and ancient traditions are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage label. Combined with the breath-taking landscape, South Estonia’s rich cultural heritage attracts visitors from all over the world. But how do we know that?

The sweeping pandemic is not just forcing us to change our daily habits and routine, but has also made governments reevaluate how decisions are made. Data has the power to fuel decision-making, especially when authorities need to make fast choices in rapidly changing conditions in order to save lives. But what if one of the most commonly used collection methods for data suddenly stopped functioning?