Data-Driven Visitor Flow Management in French Alps

As part of the Horizon Europe project CyclOps, innovative, interoperable tools are being developed to automate the entire data lifecycle, in line with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Among the four pilot initiatives, one is centered on Tourism and focuses on the French region of Isère, to answer a problematic on tourism flows management.

Balancing visitor flows for sustainable tourism

The Isère region, which is known for its variety of natural sites and outdoor activities offer, faces the recurring challenge of seasonal peaks that can strain its environment. Thus, the aim of this pilot, developed in coordination with Isère Attractivité, but also partners involved in the CyclOps project, Anysolution, Apidae, Avoris and Garden Hotels, is simple yet ambitious: enable selected natural and sensitive sites to anticipate and manage visitor flows, to protect their assets while enhancing the visitor experience.

This involves developing a monitoring system that can highlight when and where congestions are likely to occur, and suggest alternative sites or activities in real time, by aggregating different sources of data.

Understanding the visitor journey

By using different sources of information, like tourism trends, transport data, weather information, and the holidays calendars, the pilot will help destinations to get a clearer picture of how visitors move through the territory and where pressure points are likely to emerge.

In Isère, this means being able to:

Detect peaks in attendance before they become critical
Identify under-visited areas to promote alternative offers
Improve communication with visitors during their trip to guide choices
Support long-term planning with reliable, up-to-date insights

From insights to action

The pilot will deliver practical tools for local authorities and tourism managers, including dashboards to visualize visitor flows and automated alerts to respond quickly to changing conditions. These tools are designed to be simple to use while drawing on advanced data analysis in the background.

Looking ahead

Until the end of the CyclOps project, in December 2026, the Isère pilot will test and refine its methods in real conditions, ensuring they are relevant and adaptable for other destinations. The long-term ambition is to offer a replicable model that demonstrates how data collaboration can help regions manage tourism sustainably, strengthen local economies, and preserve their natural and cultural treasures.

Through CyclOps, the consortium partners are proving that smart use of data can be a powerful ally for both visitors and destinations.