2024-04-09 21:42:54
Artificial intelligence (AI) could become an unexpected “ally” in the effort to strengthen the tourist flow to our country. AI, and even more so GenAI, (generative artificial) intelligence) – can help our country attract even more tourists by solving issues such as translation and personalized experience, as well as prompting them to discover new destinations and hidden beauties in Greece.
It is typical that, according to a recent survey by Choose Strategic Communication Partners, one of the largest strategic communication, digital transformation and consulting companies in Greece, AI can be an important “ally” in the effort to strengthen the tourist flow to our country.
The survey, which was conducted in five of the largest markets attracting tourists to Greece (Britain, France, Italy, USA and Germany) with the participation of people who have visited or express the intention to visit the country in the near future for their holidays , showed that 64.5% are familiar with the concept of artificial intelligence. In fact, 60% expressed their willingness to use applications and tools that utilize artificial intelligence, both to plan their trip and during their stay in Greece.
The most important thing is help with automatic translation, but also with the formation of a personalized program of tours, sightseeing and dining. Depending on the benefits of a related AI application, tourists seem to a very large percentage willing to even pay for its use during their visit to our country.
Specifically, in the question of what kind of applications foreign visitors want to use in our country, according to the research data, the most popular tourist AI applications are translation and language support in real time (46.4%), personalized recommendations for tourist attractions, restaurants and other activities (24.8%), navigation and transportation assistance (18%).
The answers seem normal if one looks at the biggest challenges faced by those visiting Greece. The most important is the different language, followed by finding useful tourist information (16.8%), as well as locating affordable activities and accommodation (17.7%).
Equally interesting is that visitors are even willing to pay for such applications and services at a rate that reaches 36.9%. In addition, one in three (32.3%) responded that they are partially willing to pay, depending on the features that these applications offer.
Improving the tourist experience
Tourists agree that AI can make tourism information more accessible (30.7%), make reservations for attractions and activities easier (29%), provide more personalized recommendations (24.3%), but also improve transport options for visitors (15.4%).
An important element for our country, which seeks to expand the destinations preferred by foreign tourists, is that the survey participants answered that AI can help them discover unknown and interesting places (29.7%). As, of course, it can facilitate the planning and realization of their trip to our country (27.8%), as well as make their experience more personal and pleasant (25.2%).
The challenge and the prospects
In practice, research by Choose, which is worth noting has already developed applications for the tourism industry that utilize the capabilities of AI, shows that artificial intelligence can be an important “ally” for Greek tourism, if the necessary investments from the agencies and businesses active in the sector.
Investments, mainly in the development of applications, which will make use of artificial intelligence, in order to offer a better experience to the country’s visitors, but also to help them enjoy their holidays to the fullest. The last element is particularly important, at a time when Greek tourism seeks to change its profile, to expand the tourist season, but also to strengthen less popular island and mainland destinations, creating new sources of income.
The ground is ripe for such moves, given that overseas travelers have the necessary familiarity with artificial intelligence, as well as the willingness to leverage relevant applications in order to enjoy their travels.
“Automation, digital travel guides and personalized recommendations are helping to create a new era for the global travel market. And this is something that we must pay special attention to as a country, in order to exploit it in such a way that the challenge of AI develops into a great opportunity to upgrade the Greek tourism product” is pointed out in the research of Choose based on the results.
Source: RES-MPE