Mayors call for leveraging smart tech to fuel tourism

Mayors from cities around the world called for stronger cooperation in leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to advance tourism development during a dialogue in Beijing on Tuesday, highlighting smart services as a key driver of industry growth.

Their discussions followed the opening ceremony of the Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit, during which Beijing Mayor Yin Yong said in a keynote speech that Beijing anticipates the  global tourism sector will deeply explore opportunities by harnessing the strengths of the digital economy, AI and virtual technologies.

Yin noted that tourism contributes to economic growth, job creation and technological innovation, while advances in science and technology help to upgrade the sector.

"Beijing has introduced an AI-powered travel assistant, advanced the development of smart scenic spots and parks, and built a digital platform that allows visitors to explore the entire city with a single QR code," he said.

A number of AI-powered tourism services were unveiled at the event, prompting discussions on how emerging technologies can enhance the visitor experience and support sustainable tourism growth.

Despoina Limniotaki, president of the Athens City Council in Greece, said that the city has launched its 2030 road map, outlining strategies for applying AI and big data to public services.

Looking ahead, Limniotaki added that AI applications in tourism could place greater emphasis on travelers' health and well-being.

Josy Michaud-Payet, mayor of Victoria, Seychelles, noted that the adoption of AI and digital technologies in tourism also presents challenges, including privacy protection concerns and infrastructure gaps.

Several mayors said that their cities need to further improve digital infrastructure to accommodate emerging technologies such as AI, which they said could help to protect cultural heritage and enhance natural attractions.

Mario Duran, mayor of San Salvador Centro, El Salvador, highlighted China's support for infrastructure development in his city and expressed the hope that "more AI and big data will be integrated into the city".

His view was echoed by Ion Ceban, mayor of Chisinau, Moldova, who said that the broader participation of businesses in digital transportation services could help to stimulate the growth of tourism.

During site visits, the mayors explored Beijing's utilization of AI and digital technologies to enhance heritage preservation, promote sustainability and create immersive tourism experiences.

Yin, the mayor of Beijing, cited the application of AI and digital technologies at the Palace Museum, which has a history spanning more than 600 years, as well as along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which dates back more than 2,500 years.

Beijing has also introduced a package of streamlined services for customs clearance, mobile payments, local transportation and shopping, in order to make travel more convenient for international visitors.

Liu Jianqiao contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn