Impact of the European Digital Identity in Tourism

25-12-24

The European Union is moving forward with the implementation of the European Digital Identity Wallet, a mobile application that will allow citizens to securely store their government-issued digital identification, known as eID. This versatile tool will not only function as an identity document, but will also be able to hold information such as bank details, driver's licenses, loyalty cards, medical prescriptions and educational credentials.

Applications in the tourism sector

The European Digital Identity Wallet offers multiple benefits for tourism:

• Simplified check-in: streamlines processes at airports and hotels, allowing only the necessary data to be shared securely. The European Commission plans to integrate these functionalities into an application called EU Travel App, designed specifically for travelers.

• Automatic discounts: Facilitates obtaining discounts for the over-65s or students without the need to present additional documents, as the wallet verifies the required information without exposing sensitive personal data.

• Integrated payments: Allows payments directly from the application, eliminating the need to carry cash or recharge transportation cards.

• Smoother transfers between modes of transport: Facilitates the use of different modes of transport with a single authentication system, improving the traveler's experience.

Implications for data management

The portfolio will enable companies to process only the information needed for each transaction, reducing risks associated with data storage and facilitating compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the long term, this technology is expected to enable greater personalization of services and a reduction in operating costs.

Challenges and next steps

The European Commission is conducting large-scale pilots to test the functionality of the wallet and its ecosystem, collaborating with key sectors to ensure interoperability and widespread acceptance of this tool in the tourism domain