Before we hammer it into the marble, let’s not beat around the bush; Artificial Intelligence is changing the way people travel, and it’s happening faster than most thought. From personalized itineraries to robot tour guides, AI in tourism is not just a nice notion anymore; it is becoming a normal part of tourism in several countries.
What I think is interesting is the fact that this change is most easily seen in China. In Nanchang, Jiangxi, in a popular scenic area called Tengwang Pavilion, there is already an AI tour guide with the same name, Wang Bo. This is not like a headset tour, and Wang Bo does not provide a history lesson – Wang Bo collects data on what visitors want, whether it’s a deeper historical exploration or just quick tips about where to go for local snacks.
But why the surge in AI tourism? Tourism, in many cases is one of those businesses with personalization and convenience at its core, and I can not think of a better fit for convenience and instant personalization than AI. It is not just in the world’s famous attractions; cities are using it too. In Zhuhai, tourism boards are using AI intelligence to plan itineraries, automate bookings, generate itineraries and provide real time recommendations for hotels, things to do, restaurants, etc.
One traveler, Liao from Sichuan, offered a unique glimpse of a Tech-based vacation where everything is repeatable. Imagine taking a road trip with a self-driving car, no maps, no arguing about directions, and a system driven by AI determining where to stop—shopping, food, accommodation, and transport. For Liao, it was not so much about seeing new places as it was about taking the trip without any stress, and with optimization across the board.
Interestingly, the middle of the story could actually be the beginning—traditional platforms are becoming obsolete because AI can do it better. Why deal with a standard travel package when an AI platform can create something more interesting, cost-efficient and personalised to individual preferences?
Regardless of the outcome, tourism is changing. AI is not replacing travel, it is just trivializing AI travel in the process of its personalization. If it continues along the current trend, we may see the last of generic itinerary planning.
