Samenvatting

The thesis focusses on the development of a business model of a tourist card in the cross-border regions Grafschaft Bentheim (GER) and North-East Twente (NL). After conducting qualitative research in terms of literature research and interviews, a tourist card in the form of a disount card has been chosen. The form of the tourist card will be an app and a postcard. The tourist will receive a postcard when arriving at the accommodation on which a QR- code and a number-letter code are imprinted. The code will lead the tourist to the app in which the tourist card can be retrieved by typing in the number-letter code. The tourist card, which is called ‘Twente Bentheim Pass’, gives the tourist discount at the participating tourism companies. The postcard can be sent to friends/ relatives or can be kept by the tourist as a souvenir. Furthermore, it was advised to add on packages in the future such as the free usage of public transportation which the tourist can purchase in the app. 
The tourist card works as a platform between the two customer segments, the tourists, and the tourism companies such as museums, zoos et cetera. The value proposition for the tourists is the cost reduction. By using the tourist card, the tourists can save costs. Through the tourist card, the tourists will be more aware of the participating tourism companies which is beneficial for the tourism companies. Furthermore, the tourism companies can pay for additional marketing efforts. 
The tourist receives the tourist card at the accommodation that charges a small tourist contribution per night for the organisation of the tourist card. The main key resources are the app, the tourist card system and the employees who are in charge of the tourist card. The employees are responsible for platform management, service provision, platform promotion, and the acquisition of new tourism companies. A company that develops the system for the tourist card is needed, as well as a printing company and the accommodation providers. Costs involve the material costs of the postcard, the costs for developing and maintaining the platform, the wages of the employees, and their IT equipment.