OECD highlights AI potential to transform tourism in G7 nations

A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape tourism in the Group of Seven (G7) nations, offering benefits in sustainability, visitor experience, and operational efficiency, but also presenting risks.

Released on December 18, the OECD’s policy paper titled “Artificial Intelligence and Tourism” explores how AI can support innovation in tourism.

The G7 countries which are the Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are central to the paper’s focus, with AI being seen as a key tool for advancing sustainable tourism practices.

The OECD’s analysis identified several benefits of AI applications in tourism.

These include enhancing visitor experiences, improving accessibility, boosting audience engagement, and streamlining internal processes, such as customer service automation.

Additionally, AI can contribute to more sustainable tourism by optimising resource use, reducing waste, and improving the allocation of workforce skills.

The paper emphasised that AI could help manage tourist flows more efficiently.

However, the OECD called for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of AI technologies to ensure successful implementation.

Granular data collected through AI could significantly improve tourism policy-making, offering valuable insights into resource management and environmental impact.

Despite its advantages, the OECD raised concerns about potential risks.

These include challenges related to data quality, security, and the environmental impact of AI in tourism.

The OECD advised policymakers to consider these risks and emphasised the importance of legal and regulatory frameworks for AI adoption.