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Covering Gibraltar In QR Codes

The island is working with the people behind Wikipedia to provide tourists with paperless access to its culture and history.
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Article written by guest writer Kecia Lynn

What’s the Latest Development?

The island of Gibraltar wants to make it easy on tourists (with smartphones and reader apps) by putting up QR codes on its tourist attractions. Scanning the code brings up a Wikipedia page describing the sight they’re seeing…and the government is working with Wikimedia UK to make sure the information that appears is readable for as many different people as possible. According to volunteer Roger Bamkin, “‘Gibraltarpedia’ organisers want their QR codes to communicate with the user’s phone to determine its set-up language, so a Brazilian tourist can be taken to a page in Portuguese, a Turk to one in Turkish and so on.”

What’s the Big Idea?

Tourists spent £280 million (about US$455 million) in Gibraltar last year, which makes up a big chunk of the island’s economy. Volunteers are producing up to 20 articles a day, and others are being sought to add photos, maps, and other historical information. In order for the project to truly succeed, certain hurdles must be overcome, including those annoying roaming charges. In response, the government is considering offering free wi-fi.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

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