Practical Exercise: KPI Card Builder

Duration: 40 minutes
Format: Auto-validated practical exercise
Module: Data, Monitoring Systems, and ESG-ready Indicators

Exercise Description

In this practical exercise, you will create 3 KPI Cards for a sustainable tourism destination. Each KPI Card will help you connect a sustainability objective to a measurable indicator, a data source, a responsible owner, a monitoring frequency, and a clear action rule.

The purpose of this exercise is to make KPIs practical. A KPI should not only describe what is measured. It should also explain why it matters, who is responsible, how often it is checked, and what action will be taken when results show a problem or opportunity.

Learner Instructions

 

Step 1: Create 3 KPI Cards

Create three KPI Cards using the required fields below.

Each card must include:

– KPI

– Rationale / Decision supported

– Data source

– Owner

– Frequency

– Action rule

 

KPI Card Template

KPI Card 1

KPI:
Choose the indicator you want to monitor.

Rationale / Decision supported:
Explain why this KPI is important and what decision it will support.

Data source:
Select one option:

– Visitor survey

– Booking data

– Visitor counters

– Utility data

– Dashboard

– Waste tracking tool

– Carbon calculator

Owner:
Select one option:

– DMO

– Municipality

– Tourism operator

– Mixed ownership

Frequency:
Select one option:

– Real-time

– Weekly

– Monthly

– Seasonally

– Annually

Action rule:
Define what action will be taken based on the KPI result.

 

Suggested KPI Options

Learners can choose from the following curated KPI list:

 

Visitor Management KPIs

– Peak-time visitor density

– Number of visitors per site or area

– Average waiting time

– Distribution of visits across time slots

– Distribution of visits across locations

– Visitor satisfaction score

 

Resource Management KPIs

– Water use per visitor/night

– Energy use per visitor/night

– Percentage reduction in water consumption

– Percentage reduction in energy consumption

– Carbon emissions per visitor/night

– Share of businesses reporting resource-use data

 

Waste Management KPIs

– Waste generated per visitor/night

– Recycling rate

– Percentage reduction in single-use items

– Waste collection frequency in high-pressure areas

– Share of operators using waste tracking tools

 

Awareness and Behaviour KPIs

– Visitor awareness score

– Engagement rate with sustainability content

– Number of eco-travel app users

– Percentage of visitors choosing low-impact options

– Visitor satisfaction with sustainability information

 

Field Guidance for Learners

 

KPI

Select a KPI that can be measured and linked to a sustainability challenge.

Good example:
Water use per visitor/night

Weak example:
Improve sustainability

Why:
The first example is measurable. The second is too general.

 

Rationale / Decision Supported

Explain what decision this KPI will help destination managers make.

Good example:
This KPI helps identify whether water consumption increases during peak season and whether water-saving measures are needed.

Weak example:
This KPI is important for sustainability.

Why:
The first example links the KPI to a concrete decision. The second does not explain how the data will be used.

 

Data Source

Choose the most suitable source of data.

Examples:

Owner

Assign responsibility for collecting, reviewing, or coordinating the data.

Examples:

Frequency

Choose how often the KPI should be reviewed.

Examples:

Action Rule

Define what happens when the KPI reaches a certain point or shows a specific trend.

Examples:

– If peak-time visitor density exceeds the agreed threshold, activate timed-entry slots or visitor redirection messages.

– If water use per visitor/night increases for two consecutive months, review water-saving measures with operators.

– If recycling rate drops below the target level, launch a targeted waste reduction campaign.

– If visitor awareness score is low, update sustainability messages and improve communication touchpoints.

– If low-impact transport use decreases during peak season, promote shuttle routes and eco-travel app recommendations.

 

Auto-Validation Logic

The system checks each KPI Card for completeness and consistency.

Required Fields Check

Each KPI Card must include:

– KPI

– Rationale / decision supported

– Data source

– Owner

– Frequency

– Action rule

 

Success Message

Your KPI Card is complete.
You have connected the KPI to a data source, owner, monitoring frequency, and action rule.

 

Missing KPI Message

Please select a KPI.
Choose a measurable indicator from the list or enter a clear destination-relevant KPI.

Missing Rationale Message

Please add a rationale or decision supported.
Explain why this KPI matters and what decision it will support.

Missing Data Source Message

Please select a data source.
Choose where the data will come from, such as a survey, booking data, counters, utility data, dashboard, waste tracking tool, or carbon calculator.

Missing Owner Message

Please assign an owner.
Select who will be responsible for the KPI: DMO, municipality, tourism operator, or mixed ownership.

Missing Frequency Message

Please select a monitoring frequency.
Choose how often this KPI should be reviewed.

Missing Action Rule Message

Please define an action rule.
Explain what action will be taken when the KPI result shows pressure, progress, or underperformance.

 

Consistency Checks

 

KPI and Data Source Check

The system checks whether the selected data source fits the KPI.

Example Feedback: Correct Match

Good match.
This data source is suitable for measuring the selected KPI.

Example Feedback: Possible Mismatch

Check your data source.
The selected data source may not provide the information needed for this KPI. For example, visitor satisfaction is usually measured through surveys, while water use is usually measured through utility data or a dashboard.

 

KPI and Frequency Check

The system checks whether the selected frequency is realistic.

Example Feedback: Correct Match

Good frequency choice.
This frequency is appropriate for the type of KPI you selected.

Example Feedback: Possible Mismatch

Review the frequency.
This KPI may need to be monitored more frequently to support timely decisions. For example, visitor crowding is often reviewed in real time or weekly during peak season, while annual review may be too slow for operational action.

 

KPI and Owner Check

The system checks whether the selected owner is appropriate.

Example Feedback: Correct Match

Good ownership choice.
The selected owner is well placed to coordinate or act on this KPI.

Example Feedback: Possible Mismatch

Review the owner.
The selected owner may not have direct access to the required data. Consider mixed ownership if the KPI depends on cooperation between the DMO, municipality, and operators.

 

Model KPI Cards

 

Model KPI Card 1: Visitor Flow Management

KPI: Peak-time visitor density
Rationale / Decision supported:
This KPI helps identify overcrowding during high-pressure periods and supports decisions on visitor flow management.

Data source: Visitor counters / dashboard
Owner: DMO and municipality
Frequency: Real-time or weekly during peak season
Action rule:
If peak-time visitor density exceeds the agreed threshold, activate visitor redirection messages, promote alternative time slots, or apply timed-entry measures.

 

Model KPI Card 2: Water Management

KPI: Water use per visitor/night
Rationale / Decision supported:
This KPI helps monitor tourism-related water pressure and supports decisions on water-saving actions.

Data source: Utility data / water dashboard
Owner: Mixed ownership: municipality and tourism operators
Frequency: Monthly during peak season
Action rule:
If water use per visitor/night increases for two consecutive months, review consumption patterns and introduce targeted water-saving measures with operators.

 

Model KPI Card 3: Visitor Awareness

KPI: Visitor awareness score
Rationale / Decision supported:
This KPI helps assess whether visitors understand local sustainability rules, responsible behaviour, and low-impact options.

Data source: Visitor survey
Owner: DMO
Frequency: Seasonally
Action rule:
If visitor awareness scores are low, update communication messages, improve website and app content, and introduce nudges at key visitor touchpoints.

 

Basic Dashboard View

After the learner completes the 3 KPI Cards, the system generates a simple dashboard view.

 

Example Dashboard Output

 

 

Dashboard Summary Message

Your basic monitoring dashboard is ready.
You have created a small but practical KPI set. Each KPI is connected to a data source, an owner, a review frequency, and an action rule. This makes the dashboard useful not only for reporting, but also for destination management decisions.