AI-Powered Personalization: Elevating Tourist Experiences – Part 2 of 8

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artificial intelligence (ai) and machine learning (ml) By MEFTAHYs-PROTOTYPE

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This is Part 2 of a 8-blog posts series “Exploring the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Tourist Experiences: Insights into AI-Driven Customization and Its Impact on Tourism”.

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1.3 The AI-Driven Evolution of Personalized Tourist Experiences

The tourism industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards personalization, a pivotal element in amplifying the tourist experience. Personalization, at its core, is the art of tailoring services and offerings to resonate with the unique preferences of each traveler. This can manifest in myriad ways, from curated travel recommendations to bespoke travel packages. A striking insight from Smart Insights reveals that a staggering 63% of customers might disengage from brands that falter in personalization (Dunne, 2022).

Every traveler is a unique entity, characterized by distinct preferences, interests, and aspirations. Personalization in tourism is the bridge to these individual nuances, enhancing the overall experience and bolstering customer satisfaction. The ripple effect of effective personalization is evident in heightened customer loyalty, with travelers more inclined towards providers that resonate with their needs (Li et al., 2020).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as the linchpin in this personalization journey. AI’s prowess in sifting through vast data troves enables it to discern individual behaviors and preferences, paving the way for tailored offerings. For instance, AI-driven recommendation engines can curate travel suggestions rooted in a tourist’s historical data, online interactions, and inclinations, streamlining the booking process and elevating the overall experience (Dunne, 2022).

AI’s capabilities extend beyond mere recommendations. It can craft detailed tourist profiles, offering pinpointed suggestions for attractions, activities, and events. By harnessing data-driven insights, AI can anticipate attractions or experiences a traveler might gravitate towards, enabling providers to curate tailored suggestions (Li et al., 2020).

However, the realm of personalization transcends recommendations. McKinsey’s research underscores an evolving ecosystem where personalization permeates every facet of a traveler’s journey. This encompasses not just the hotel stay but extends to dining choices, entertainment venues, and even souvenir shopping, crafting a holistic, tailored experience (Dunne, 2022).

AI’s capabilities are further accentuated in deciphering unique customer journeys. The traditional linear travel journey has evolved into a dynamic, multi-faceted experience. AI stands as the beacon, understanding these intricate journeys and curating services in tandem (Saha, 2019).

The tangible impacts of AI are already evident. Smart hotels, for instance, leverage AI-driven chatbots and voice assistants to offer guests a seamless, personalized experience, from room service requests to dining reservations (Petar, 2023).

In summation, the synergy of AI and personalization is redefining the tourism landscape. By harnessing data-driven insights, AI crafts bespoke experiences, enhancing satisfaction and fostering loyalty.

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1.4 Charting the Course: Objectives and Research Queries

This blog posts series embarks on a journey to unravel the confluence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tourist experiences, with a spotlight on AI’s role in personalization. The driving force behind this exploration is AI’s transformative potential and the escalating significance of personalization in tourism (Buhalis, 2020; McCartney & McCartney, 2020).

To navigate this exploration, the paper poses pivotal research queries:

  1. How is AI sculpting personalized tourist experiences across global destinations?
  2. What ripple effects does AI-driven personalization have on travelers, service providers, and destination management entities?
  3. What future trajectories can we anticipate in AI-driven personalization, and how might these shape tourist experiences?

These queries are rooted in contemporary academic discourse on AI in tourism. Studies like those by Inanc-Demir & Kozak (2019) and Kong et al. (2022) offer insights into AI’s transformative role in tourism. Additionally, Dwivedi et al. (2023) shed light on AI’s overarching impacts across sectors, including tourism.

This blog posts series aspires to augment this academic narrative, offering a holistic view of AI-driven personalization in tourism and its ramifications on the tourist experience.

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#AIinTourism #PersonalizedTravel #TouristExperience #SmartTourism #TravelTech #AIPersonalization #TourismTrends #TravelInnovation #TourismResearch

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References

  • AIFinesse. (2023). AI in Tourism: 2023 and Beyond. Retrieved from https://www.aifinesse.com/ai-in-tourism-2023-and-beyond/
  • Amadeus. (2023). Artificial Intelligence | Amadeus. https://amadeus.com/en/solutions/airlines/artificial-intelligence
  • Booking.com. (2018). Booking.com reveals the top travel predictions for 2019. Retrieved from https://globalnews.booking.com/bookingcom-reveals-the-top-travel-predictions-for-2019/
  • Buhalis, D. (2020). Technology in tourism-from information communication technologies to eTourism and smart tourism towards ambient intelligence tourism: a perspective article. Tourism Review.
  • Buhalis, D., & Leung, R. (2020). Smart hospitality—Interconnectivity and interoperability towards an ecosystem. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 85, 102433.
  • Buhalis, D., & Moldavska, A. (2022). Smart tourism and competitive advantage for stakeholders. Tourism Review.
  • Chan, N. L., & Guillet, B. D. (2018). Investigation of social media marketing: how does the hotel industry in Hong Kong perform in marketing on social media websites? Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 31(8), 961-972.
  • Chen, Y., Xu, Z., & Gretzel, U. (2020). The impact of artificial intelligence-powered personalization on tourist satisfaction: A large-scale field experiment. Tourism Management, 80, 104170.
  • Chunduri, P. K. (2020). Effects of Use of Personalised Artificial Intelligence and Robot Application on Customer Service in the Tourism Industry. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(12), 1594-1600.
  • Dataconomy. (2023). Is AI Technology The Future Of Travel? Retrieved from https://dataconomy.com/2023/08/03/is-ai-technology-the-future-of-travel/
  • Dawes, J. (2023). Amazon Web Services Execs on AI ‘Hyper-Personalization’ in Travel. Skift. Retrieved from https://skift.com/2023/06/27/amazon-web-services-execs-on-ai-hyper-personalization-in-travel/
  • Dunne, D. (2022). The Future Of Personalization In The Travel Industry. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/danadunne/2022/01/27/the-future-of-personalisation-in-the-travel-industry/
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., … & Upadhyay, N. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of Information Management, 55, 102211.
  • Forbes Advisor. (2023). 25 Astonishing AI Statistics for 2023. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/ai-statistics/
  • GlobeNewswire. (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Thematic Intelligence Report 2023. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/03/2718144/0/en/Artificial-Intelligence-AI-in-Travel-and-Tourism-Thematic-Intelligence-Report-2023.html
  • Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., & Courville, A. (2016). Deep Learning. MIT Press.
  • Gretzel, U., Sigala, M., Xiang, Z., & Koo, C. (2018). Smart tourism: Foundations and developments. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  • Gupta, S., Modgil, S., Lee, CK. et al. The future is yesterday: Use of AI-driven facial recognition to enhance value in the travel and tourism industry. Inf Syst Front 25, 1179–1195 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10271-8
  • Gursoy, D., Chi, C. G. Q., Lu, L., & Nunkoo, R. (2019). Antecedents and outcomes of travelers’ information-seeking behavior in the context of AI. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287519868314.
  • Inanc-Demir, L., & Kozak, M. (2019). The role of artificial intelligence in tourism. In Tourism in the City (pp. 221-232). Springer.
  • Koegler, S. (2023). AI Technology in Tourism: Personalized Experiences. AI & Machine Learning Tech Brief. Retrieved from https://www.aimltechbrief.com/index.php/bigdata/item/7561-ai-technology-in-tourism-personalized-experiences
  • Kong, H., Wang, L., & Fu, X. (2022). Artificial intelligence in tourism: state of the art and future research directions. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287520962792.
  • Leung, R. (2020). Developing a conceptual model for smart tourism research: a sustainability perspective. Sustainability, 12(9), 3832.
  • Li, X., Law, R., Vu, H. Q., Rong, J., & Zhao, X. (2018). Identifying emerging hotel preferences using Emerging Pattern Mining technique. Tourism Management, 67, 370-383.
  • Li, X., Wang, D., Andergassen, R., Huang, Y., & Zeng, B. (2020). Personalized travel recommendation: integrating the strengths of content-based and collaborative filtering. Information Technology & Tourism, 22, 555–573.
  • Li, X., Wang, D., Liang, X., Huang, D. (2020). China’s smart tourism destination initiative: A taste of the service-dominant logic. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287520913410.
  • Lv, Z., Song, H., Basiri, A., Jackson, M., & Kitchin, R. (2022). Recommender systems in tourism: state of the art and future directions. Tourism Review.
  • McCartney, G., & McCartney, A. (2020). The impact of artificial intelligence on the future of tourism. International Journal of Tourism Cities.
  • McKinsey & Company. (2018). An AI nation: Harnessing the opportunity of artificial intelligence in Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/Europe/Harnessing%20the%20opportunity%20of%20artificial%20intelligence%20in%20Denmark/An-AI-nation-Harnessing-the-opportunity-of-AI-in-Denmark.pdf
  • Mich, L., Garigliano, R. ChatGPT for e-Tourism: a technological perspective. Inf Technol Tourism 25, 1–12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-023-00248-x
  • Mileva, G. (2023). Top 10 AI Trends That Will Transform Businesses in 2023. Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved from https://influencermarketinghub.com/ai-trends/
  • O’Flaherty, K. (2023). 3 tech trends that will dominate the travel industry in 2023. The Next Web. Retrieved from https://thenextweb.com/news/3-tech-trends-travel-industry-2023
  • Pang, B., Chen, Y., & Zhang, X. (2020). The impact of AI-powered personalization on tourist experiences: A review of literature. Tourism Management, 79, 104064.
  • Philip L. Pearce, Mao-Ying Wu, Manuela De Carlo, Andrea Rossi “Contemporary experiences of Chinese tourists in Italy: An on-site analysis in Milan” nella rivista internazionale “Tourism Management Perspectives” 7 (2013) 34–37, Ed. Elsevier ltd (retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/4027130/Contemporary_experiences_of_Chinese_tourists_in_Italy)
  • Petar. (2023). The Future of AI in Tourism: Analyzing the Potential for Personalization and Experience Enhancement. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@peco4312/the-future-of-ai-in-tourism-analyzing-the-potential-for-personalization-and-experience-enhancement-b676e7ac58a8?source=rss——-1
  • PR Newswire. (2023). Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Intelligence Report 2023: AI-Driven Technologies Disrupting Travel, Enhancing Efficiency and Personalization. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-travel-and-tourism-intelligence-report-2023-ai-driven-technologies-disrupting-travel-enhancing-efficiency-and-personalization-301891840.html
  • Ramzan, B., Bajwa, I.S., Jamil, N., & Mirza, F. (2019). An Intelligent Data Analysis for Hotel Recommendation Systems using Machine Learning. ArXiv, abs/1910.06669.
  • Research and Markets (2023). Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Intelligence Report 2023: AI-Driven Technologies Disrupting Travel, Enhancing Efficiency and Personalization. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-travel-and-tourism-intelligence-report-2023-ai-driven-technologies-disrupting-travel-enhancing-efficiency-and-personalization-301891840.html
  • Revfine. (2023). 13 Key Technology Trends Emerging in the Travel & Tourism Industry. Retrieved from https://www.revfine.com/technology-trends-travel-industry/
  • Roh, S., Park, D., & Kim, J. (2020). The role of AI-powered personalization in tourism: A case study of a major South Korean travel agency. Journal of Travel Research, 59(2), 270-284.
  • Rossi Andrea (2020) “La comunicazione del turismo ai tempi del coronavirus” inserito nel fascicolo monografico del “Semestrale di studi e ricerche di Geografia”, dedicato all’impatto socio-territoriale della pandemia, “Epidemia, spazio e società. Idee e analisi per il dibattito e le politiche pubbliche” a cura di Angelo Turco, ISSN 1125-5218, pp. 57-71, XXXII, Fascicolo 2, luglio-dicembre 2020 (retrieved from https://www.semestrale-geografia.uniroma1.it/index.php/semestrale-geografia/article/view/17032/16354)
  • Rossi Andrea (2022), “Comunicazione Digitale per il Turismo”, Self-Publishing, Vercelli, 2022 – ISBN 9791221004175
  • Rossi Andrea (2023). “Il Buono, il Brutto e il Cattivo: Il “Triello” Del Metaverso”. Documenti geografici, 0(2), 673-678. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.19246/DOCUGEO2281-7549/202302_47 (retrieved from https://www.documentigeografici.it/index.php/docugeo/article/view/478)
  • Rossi Andrea, Goetz Maurizio (2011) “Creare offerte turistiche vincenti con Tourist Experience Design”, ed. Hoepli, Milano, 2011
  • Russell, S., & Norvig, P. (2020). Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson.
  • Saha, T. (2019). AI is Reimagining Travel Personalisation. Towards Data Science. Retrieved from https://towardsdatascience.com/ai-is-reimagining-travel-personalisation-c72685faa378
  • Samara, E., Tsimitakis, E., & Vasilakis, C. (2020). Artificial intelligence (AI) applied in Tourism: A Bibliometric review. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Tourism Research (pp. 1-10).
  • Stylos, N., Vassiliadis, C. A., Bellou, V., & Andronikidis, A. (2021). Destination images, holistic images and personal normative beliefs: Predictors of intention to revisit a destination. Tourism Management, 31(5), 525-545.
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  • Xiang, Z., & Gretzel, U. (2019). Artificial intelligence in tourism: A review of recent research. Tourism Management, 70, 304-326.
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AI in Tourism: Revolutionizing Personalized Experiences and Operational Efficiency – Part 1 of 8

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A person interacts with artificial intelligence By AndersonPiza

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This is Part 1 of a 8-blog posts series “Exploring the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Tourist Experiences: Insights into AI-Driven Customization and Its Impact on Tourism”.

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1. Introduction to AI’s Transformative Role in Tourism

1.1. A Glimpse into AI and its Expanding Horizons

Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a beacon of transformation across diverse sectors, with its applications ever-evolving. Within the tourism landscape, AI promises to redefine our travel experiences, spanning from tailored recommendations to the intelligent automation of myriad services.

At its essence, AI is a computer science domain dedicated to crafting systems adept at tasks typically necessitating human intellect. Such tasks encompass learning from new data, comprehending human language, pattern recognition, and decision-making. AI branches into two primary categories:

  • Narrow AI: Tailored for specific tasks like voice recognition.
  • General AI: Capable of any intellectual endeavor a human can undertake (Russell & Norvig, 2020).

Machine learning, a notable AI subset, revolves around crafting algorithms enabling computers to learn and decide based on data. A deeper dive into machine learning reveals deep learning, which employs multi-layered neural networks to decipher intricate data patterns. Such methodologies have found applications across sectors, achieving commendable outcomes (Goodfellow, Bengio, & Courville, 2016).

In tourism, AI’s prowess manifests in enhanced personalization, elevated customer service standards, and streamlined operations. For instance, AI-driven recommendation engines can curate travel suggestions tailored to a tourist’s preferences, amplifying the overall experience (Li, Wang, Liang, & Huang, 2020). Furthermore, AI’s automation capabilities, as seen in chatbots, offer real-time customer responses, leading to operational cost reductions (Gursoy, Chi, Lu, & Nunkoo, 2019).

Additionally, AI’s optimization capabilities have been harnessed in tourism. Predictive analytics powered by AI can forecast tourist demand, allowing businesses to refine their resources and offerings (Li, Law, Vu, Rong, & Zhao, 2018). AI’s prowess in analyzing online sentiments offers insights into customer preferences (Xiang, Du, Ma, & Fan, 2017).

In summation, AI’s potential in reshaping the tourism sector is undeniable. As it continues its evolutionary journey, its role in curating bespoke tourist experiences will only magnify.

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1.2. AI’s Growing Footprint in Tourism

The tourism industry is witnessing a paradigm shift, with AI emerging as a pivotal transformative agent. As elucidated by McCartney and McCartney (2020), AI encapsulates technologies proficient in emulating advanced human intelligence facets during problem-solving. With tourism undergoing a digital metamorphosis (Buhalis, 2020), AI’s initial imprints are discernible across the sector’s spectrum (Kong et al., 2022).

AI’s influence is evident in both operational and marketing facets of tourist destinations (Inanc-Demir & Kozak, 2019). From personalization engines and robots to forecasting systems and smart travel assistants, AI’s capabilities are vast. Its disruptive potential is already reshaping the industry’s core (Buhalis et al., 2019; Buhalis & Moldavska, 2022; Leung, 2020).

McCartney and McCartney’s (2020) research accentuates AI’s transformative potential in tourism. They advocate for AI’s capabilities in bolstering operational efficiency, refining customer service, and driving profitability. For instance, AI-empowered chatbots can offer round-the-clock interactive customer service, catering to guest queries, curating personalized recommendations, and even facilitating simple bookings. This not only elevates customer service standards but also trims response times, fostering guest loyalty and satisfaction.

Furthermore, AI’s analytical depth offers immense potential in hotel marketing. For example, AI can meticulously dissect customer data, segmenting users based on past behaviors, preferences, or demographics. This aids hotels in fine-tuning their marketing strategies, fostering customer engagement and loyalty (Lv et al., 2022).

However, the AI integration journey isn’t devoid of challenges. These encompass the quest for pristine data, the intricacies of harmonizing AI systems with human roles, and the hotel sector’s historical hesitance towards novel technologies (Chan et al., 2018; Stylos et al., 2021).

In conclusion, AI’s transformative potential for the tourism sector is monumental. By refining operational efficiency, elevating customer service, and enabling profound analytical insights, AI is poised to redefine the tourism industry’s interactions with its clientele.

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#AI #Tourism #Travel #AIinTourism #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #PersonalizedTravel #TourismTech #DigitalTransformation #SmartTourism #AIChatbots #TravelInnovation

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REFERENCES

  • AIFinesse. (2023). AI in Tourism: 2023 and Beyond. Retrieved from https://www.aifinesse.com/ai-in-tourism-2023-and-beyond/
  • Amadeus. (2023). Artificial Intelligence | Amadeus. https://amadeus.com/en/solutions/airlines/artificial-intelligence
  • Booking.com. (2018). Booking.com reveals the top travel predictions for 2019. Retrieved from https://globalnews.booking.com/bookingcom-reveals-the-top-travel-predictions-for-2019/
  • Buhalis, D. (2020). Technology in tourism-from information communication technologies to eTourism and smart tourism towards ambient intelligence tourism: a perspective article. Tourism Review.
  • Buhalis, D., & Leung, R. (2020). Smart hospitality—Interconnectivity and interoperability towards an ecosystem. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 85, 102433.
  • Buhalis, D., & Moldavska, A. (2022). Smart tourism and competitive advantage for stakeholders. Tourism Review.
  • Chan, N. L., & Guillet, B. D. (2018). Investigation of social media marketing: how does the hotel industry in Hong Kong perform in marketing on social media websites? Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 31(8), 961-972.
  • Chen, Y., Xu, Z., & Gretzel, U. (2020). The impact of artificial intelligence-powered personalization on tourist satisfaction: A large-scale field experiment. Tourism Management, 80, 104170.
  • Chunduri, P. K. (2020). Effects of Use of Personalised Artificial Intelligence and Robot Application on Customer Service in the Tourism Industry. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(12), 1594-1600.
  • Dataconomy. (2023). Is AI Technology The Future Of Travel? Retrieved from https://dataconomy.com/2023/08/03/is-ai-technology-the-future-of-travel/
  • Dawes, J. (2023). Amazon Web Services Execs on AI ‘Hyper-Personalization’ in Travel. Skift. Retrieved from https://skift.com/2023/06/27/amazon-web-services-execs-on-ai-hyper-personalization-in-travel/
  • Dunne, D. (2022). The Future Of Personalization In The Travel Industry. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/danadunne/2022/01/27/the-future-of-personalisation-in-the-travel-industry/
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., … & Upadhyay, N. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of Information Management, 55, 102211.
  • Forbes Advisor. (2023). 25 Astonishing AI Statistics for 2023. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/ai-statistics/
  • GlobeNewswire. (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Thematic Intelligence Report 2023. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/03/2718144/0/en/Artificial-Intelligence-AI-in-Travel-and-Tourism-Thematic-Intelligence-Report-2023.html
  • Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., & Courville, A. (2016). Deep Learning. MIT Press.
  • Gretzel, U., Sigala, M., Xiang, Z., & Koo, C. (2018). Smart tourism: Foundations and developments. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  • Gupta, S., Modgil, S., Lee, CK. et al. The future is yesterday: Use of AI-driven facial recognition to enhance value in the travel and tourism industry. Inf Syst Front 25, 1179–1195 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10271-8
  • Gursoy, D., Chi, C. G. Q., Lu, L., & Nunkoo, R. (2019). Antecedents and outcomes of travelers’ information-seeking behavior in the context of AI. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287519868314.
  • Inanc-Demir, L., & Kozak, M. (2019). The role of artificial intelligence in tourism. In Tourism in the City (pp. 221-232). Springer.
  • Koegler, S. (2023). AI Technology in Tourism: Personalized Experiences. AI & Machine Learning Tech Brief. Retrieved from https://www.aimltechbrief.com/index.php/bigdata/item/7561-ai-technology-in-tourism-personalized-experiences
  • Kong, H., Wang, L., & Fu, X. (2022). Artificial intelligence in tourism: state of the art and future research directions. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287520962792.
  • Leung, R. (2020). Developing a conceptual model for smart tourism research: a sustainability perspective. Sustainability, 12(9), 3832.
  • Li, X., Law, R., Vu, H. Q., Rong, J., & Zhao, X. (2018). Identifying emerging hotel preferences using Emerging Pattern Mining technique. Tourism Management, 67, 370-383.
  • Li, X., Wang, D., Andergassen, R., Huang, Y., & Zeng, B. (2020). Personalized travel recommendation: integrating the strengths of content-based and collaborative filtering. Information Technology & Tourism, 22, 555–573.
  • Li, X., Wang, D., Liang, X., Huang, D. (2020). China’s smart tourism destination initiative: A taste of the service-dominant logic. Journal of Travel Research, 0047287520913410.
  • Lv, Z., Song, H., Basiri, A., Jackson, M., & Kitchin, R. (2022). Recommender systems in tourism: state of the art and future directions. Tourism Review.
  • McCartney, G., & McCartney, A. (2020). The impact of artificial intelligence on the future of tourism. International Journal of Tourism Cities.
  • McKinsey & Company. (2018). An AI nation: Harnessing the opportunity of artificial intelligence in Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/Europe/Harnessing%20the%20opportunity%20of%20artificial%20intelligence%20in%20Denmark/An-AI-nation-Harnessing-the-opportunity-of-AI-in-Denmark.pdf
  • Mich, L., Garigliano, R. ChatGPT for e-Tourism: a technological perspective. Inf Technol Tourism 25, 1–12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-023-00248-x
  • Mileva, G. (2023). Top 10 AI Trends That Will Transform Businesses in 2023. Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved from https://influencermarketinghub.com/ai-trends/
  • O’Flaherty, K. (2023). 3 tech trends that will dominate the travel industry in 2023. The Next Web. Retrieved from https://thenextweb.com/news/3-tech-trends-travel-industry-2023
  • Pang, B., Chen, Y., & Zhang, X. (2020). The impact of AI-powered personalization on tourist experiences: A review of literature. Tourism Management, 79, 104064.
  • Philip L. Pearce, Mao-Ying Wu, Manuela De Carlo, Andrea Rossi “Contemporary experiences of Chinese tourists in Italy: An on-site analysis in Milan” nella rivista internazionale “Tourism Management Perspectives” 7 (2013) 34–37, Ed. Elsevier ltd (retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/4027130/Contemporary_experiences_of_Chinese_tourists_in_Italy)
  • Petar. (2023). The Future of AI in Tourism: Analyzing the Potential for Personalization and Experience Enhancement. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@peco4312/the-future-of-ai-in-tourism-analyzing-the-potential-for-personalization-and-experience-enhancement-b676e7ac58a8?source=rss——-1
  • PR Newswire. (2023). Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Intelligence Report 2023: AI-Driven Technologies Disrupting Travel, Enhancing Efficiency and Personalization. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-travel-and-tourism-intelligence-report-2023-ai-driven-technologies-disrupting-travel-enhancing-efficiency-and-personalization-301891840.html
  • Ramzan, B., Bajwa, I.S., Jamil, N., & Mirza, F. (2019). An Intelligent Data Analysis for Hotel Recommendation Systems using Machine Learning. ArXiv, abs/1910.06669.
  • Research and Markets (2023). Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Travel and Tourism Intelligence Report 2023: AI-Driven Technologies Disrupting Travel, Enhancing Efficiency and Personalization. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-travel-and-tourism-intelligence-report-2023-ai-driven-technologies-disrupting-travel-enhancing-efficiency-and-personalization-301891840.html
  • Revfine. (2023). 13 Key Technology Trends Emerging in the Travel & Tourism Industry. Retrieved from https://www.revfine.com/technology-trends-travel-industry/
  • Roh, S., Park, D., & Kim, J. (2020). The role of AI-powered personalization in tourism: A case study of a major South Korean travel agency. Journal of Travel Research, 59(2), 270-284.
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Tourism Innovation: How Technology is Shaping the Future of Travel

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Two girls having fun with vr glasses virtual reality inovation at home or in office. Ph by dvatri

The tourism industry has always been at the forefront of adopting new technology, seeking ways to enhance and streamline the travel experience. As we continue to dive deeper into the digital age, the scope of technological innovation in tourism has expanded exponentially. This article explores some of the latest developments in technology that are shaping the future of travel, offering more personalized, convenient, and immersive experiences for tourists around the world.

  1. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

One of the most significant technological advances in recent years is the integration of VR and AR into the tourism industry. These immersive technologies allow travelers to explore destinations and attractions from the comfort of their homes, offering a new way to research and plan trips (Guttentag, 2010). VR and AR are also transforming on-site experiences, with attractions and museums providing visitors with interactive and educational content through the use of smart glasses and mobile devices (Yung & Khoo-Lattimore, 2019).

  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning have become indispensable tools in the tourism industry. These technologies enable the creation of personalized itineraries, recommendations, and travel experiences tailored to individual preferences (Li, Wang, Liang, & Huang, 2018). AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants have also made customer service more efficient, providing instant and accurate answers to travelers’ questions (Gretzel, 2011).

  1. Internet of Things (IoT)

The IoT is revolutionizing the tourism industry by connecting devices, systems, and services to create seamless travel experiences (Delen, Kuzey, & Uyar, 2018). Smart luggage with built-in tracking systems, smart hotel rooms with voice-activated controls, and connected transportation services are just a few examples of how IoT is enhancing the travel experience (Bujoreanu, 2017).

  1. Biometric Technology

Biometric technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in airports and other travel-related facilities, as it allows for faster and more secure identification and authentication of travelers (Morphis, 2016). Facial recognition, fingerprint scanners, and iris recognition systems are being used to expedite immigration and customs processes, as well as to enhance security measures (Bagaric & Xynas, 2017).

  1. Sustainable Travel Technologies

As the tourism industry faces growing concerns about its environmental impact, sustainable travel technologies are emerging to help address these issues (Bieger, Wittmer, & Laesser, 2017). Electric and hybrid transportation options, solar-powered accommodation facilities, and innovative waste management solutions are just a few examples of the technologies being implemented to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint (Pantano, Pizzi, Scarpi, & Dennis, 2017).

Conclusion

The ongoing integration of technology into the tourism industry is reshaping the way we travel, offering more personalized, convenient, and immersive experiences. With constant innovations in virtual reality, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, biometric technology, and sustainable travel solutions, the future of travel is undoubtedly an exciting one. As these technologies continue to advance, they will play an increasingly important role in driving the growth and evolution of the tourism industry, ultimately shaping a more connected and sustainable world.

Bibliography

Bagaric, M., & Xynas, L. (2017). Migration and human rights in the era of biometric identification: The case for privacy-enhancing migration controls. International Migration, 55(6), 97-110.

Bieger, T., Wittmer, A., & Laesser, C. (2017). Transportation mode and travel behavior: A study on the role of electric and autonomous vehicles. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(6), 811-828.

Bujoreanu, I. C. (2017). Internet of things and smart tourism development. Valahian Journal of Economic Studies, 8(2), 41-46.

Delen, D., Kuzey, C., & Uyar, A. (2018). The impact of the Internet of Things on the tourism industry: An exploratory study. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 9(3), 286-300.

Gretzel, U. (2011). Intelligent systems in tourism: A social science perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(3), 757-779.

Guttentag, D. (2010). Virtual reality: Applications and implications for tourism. Tourism Management, 31(5), 637-651.

Li, X., Wang, D., Liang, X., & Huang, D. (2018). A personalized travel recommendation algorithm based on collaborative filtering and time-aware POI visit probability. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 206-215.

Morphis, A. (2016). Biometrics and international travel. Journal of Airport Management, 10(3), 271-279.

Pantano, E., Pizzi, G., Scarpi, D., & Dennis, C. (2017). Competing through responsible innovation: The case of the travel industry. Journal of Business Research, 77, 139-148.

Rossi A., (2022) “Comunicazione Digltale per il Turismo”, Rossi A., 2022, ISBN 9791221004175

Yung, R., & Khoo-Lattimore, C. (2019). New realities: A systematic literature review on virtual reality and augmented reality in tourism research. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(17), 2056-2081

TourismInnovation, #FutureOfTravel, #TravelTech, #VirtualReality, #ArtificialIntelligence, #IoTinTravel, #BiometricTechnology, #SustainableTravel, #SmartTourism, #TravelTrends

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Smart Technologies for a Memorable Tourist Experience in the 2020s

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AR is one of the new smart technology of the 2020s tourism
AR is one of the new smart technology of the 2020s tourism

The 2020s have seen a surge in the implementation of innovative digital technologies in the tourism sector.
In an age where digitalization is no longer a trend but a reality, the extensive use of smart techs has become essential within the tourism industry.
These technologies empower tourists, making them more active, and raise their expectations in terms of experiences at a destination or a specific attraction.

Tourism destinations, attractions, and operators must manage this challenge by adopting and implementing smart infrastructures and technologies in their offerings.
By designing and creating attractive and memorable tourist experiences, they can ensure their continued success in an ever-evolving industry.

Smart tourism, as suggested by literature [Gretzel U. et al. 2016; Femenia-Serra F. et al., 2018], is a managerial framework that combines tourism infrastructure with ICT (Information and Communication Techs) tools to increase the efficiency of destinations and operators while enhancing tourists’ experiences.

The concept of smart technologies includes new forms of cooperation and technologies for value creation.
It’s important to note that being “smart” does not refer to the advancement of a single technology, but rather the interconnection and simultaneous collaboration of various technologies.

Smart technologies encompass a range of innovative techs, such as [Shen S. et al., 2020]:

  • Internet of Things (IoT): a network capable of identifying, locating, tracking, monitoring, managing, and connecting products to the network for the exchange of information and communication through RFID, infrared sensors, GPS, laser scanning, and other types of sensors.
  • Cloud computing technologies: these technologies have two meanings, 1. the platforms used to build applications (cloud platform), 2. The applications built on these platforms (cloud application).
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): technologies that use software and hardware to simulate intelligent human behavior, effectively compute and analyze data and information, and support decision-making and problem-solving. For example, virtual assistants.
  • Mobile communication technologies: technologies used for wireless communication that enable real-time connection between remote systems and devices. 5G is the fifth generation of mobile communication technology, much faster and more reliable than the previous (4G). Soon we will have 6G, even faster.
  • Mobile devices and apps: electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and the technologies connected to them. Mobile internet includes various platform devices, such as smartphones, tablets, in-car systems, and wireless home automation systems. The mobile internet also includes personal and business apps.
  • Big data: Big data is a term that describes the huge volume of structured and unstructured data flooding the network every day. Big data can be analyzed to gain insights that guide better decision-making for destinations and operators.
  • Ubiquitous connection between Wi-Fi and other networks: a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to the wireless network of a local area, such as public city networks.
  • Virtual reality: a form of information technology that enables users to navigate computer-generated simulated environments. VR is a computer-generated environment where people can experience places and situations as if they were actually present. For example, Virtual Tour or the more recent Metaverse.
  • Augmented reality: an enhanced version of reality where people see the real world overlaid with digital information and elements through a digital display (smartphone or dedicated headset). AR enriches people’s perception of reality and enhances their visiting experience through additional digital content.
  • Intelligent Chat Robot: a robot capable of understanding and conversing with users using human language.
  • Wearable devices: portable devices that can be worn directly or integrated into users’ clothing or accessories. For example, smartwatches.
  • Beacon technology: beacons are small wireless transmitters that use low-energy Bluetooth to send signals to other smart devices nearby. They allow for great precision in localization and enable proximity marketing.

These innovations are transforming the way tourists interact with their surroundings, enhancing their experiences and allowing operators to cater to their needs more effectively.
By embracing these smart technologies, the tourism industry can ensure its continued growth and success in the 2020s and beyond.

Bibliography.

  • [Femenia-Serra, F. et al., 2018] Femenia-Serra, F.; Neuhofer, B. Smart tourism experiences: Conceptualization, key dimensions and research agenda. J. Reg. Res. 2018, 42, 129–150.
  • [Gretzel, U. et al., 2016] Gretzel, U.; Zhong, L.; Koo, C. Application of smart tourism to cities. Int. J. Tour. Cit. 2016, 2, 106–108.
  • [Rossi A., 2022] Rossi Andrea, “Comunicazione Digltale per il Turismo”, Rossi A., 2022, ISBN 9791221004175
  • [Shiwei Shen Scene S. et al, 2020] Shiwei Shen Scene S., Marios Sotiriadis and Yuwen Zhang “The Influence of Smart Technologies on Customer Journey in Tourist Attractions within the Smart Tourism Management Framework”, Sustainability 2020, 12, 4157

Credits: picture by DegrooteStock

#Travel; #Tourism; #Tech; #Technology; #DigitalTourism; #Destination Marketing; #Destination Management; #Experience; #ExperienceManagement; #ExperienceDesign

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