Digital transformation is increasingly presented as a necessary pathway for cultural tourism organizations, yet many local and rural ecosystems still struggle to translate digital opportunities into coherent strategies, organizational capabilities, and sustainable business model innovation. This paper presents the final insights of the T4Y research project, which developed and applied models and tools for analysing, mapping and supporting digital transformation and business model innovation in cultural tourism organizations and local ecosystems. The study is grounded in the Tech4You project and adopts an iterative, multi-method and design-oriented research approach. The research process combined an international literature review on digital transformation, digital maturity and business model innovation; an analysis of best practices; the development of a sector-specific Digital Maturity Assessment Model and related assessment tool; qualitative interviews with local stakeholders, operators and institutional actors; survey-based data collection; and participatory workshops in pilot areas in Basilicata, Southern Italy. Findings show that digital transformation in cultural tourism cannot be interpreted as a mere process of technology adoption. Rather, it emerges as a systemic capability involving seven interconnected dimensions: strategy, organization, culture, employees, tourists/customers, operations and technology. The final project insights highlight four main issues. First, digital maturity is uneven and often limited by weak strategic planning, fragmented technological infrastructures, limited use of data and discontinuous collaboration among actors. Second, business model innovation is activated when digital tools are connected to value proposition redesign, stakeholder engagement, experience innovation and territorial identity. Third, participatory tools such as assessment models, SWOT-based reflection, business model mapping and workshops act as boundary objects that transform scattered knowledge into actionable ecosystem learning. Fourth, leadership and relational capabilities are decisive for moving from isolated digital initiatives to coordinated transformation pathways. The paper contributes to knowledge management, digital transformation and tourism innovation research by framing digital maturity as an ecosystem-level knowledge capability and by offering a practical roadmap for cultural tourism organizations and policy makers.