Sustainable travel, AI increasingly in demand in tourism

Sustainable tourism and travel are a big trend in the world and Croatia, given its natural and cultural heritage, has a special responsibility in protecting resources and using artificial intelligence in tourism due to its good and less good properties, it was said at Croatian Tourism Days on Friday.

2023 revenue could amount to €14.3 billion

This year to date, there have been 20 million arrivals and 106 million nights, more than in 2022 and the same as in 2019, said Croatian Tourist Board director Kristjan Staničić.

This year's tourism revenue, according to the central bank's estimates, could be €14.3 billion, €1.3 billion more than last year, he added.

Speaking of sustainability, Staničić said that along with responsible and sustainable tourism, Croatia must strive for a balance between tourism development, environmental protection and a happy local population.

"Croatia can become a leader in sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean, which some say it already is, and one should keep in mind that sustainable tourism does not mean only protecting nature and resources but safeguarding the identity and culture of destinations also. It also contributes to job creation, raises the standard of living, improves the infrastructure and promotes common responsibility for the environment and society," Staničić said.

AI increasingly present in tourism

Artificial intelligence is being increasingly used and requested in the world, including in tourism, said the director of the Apsolon company, Vedran Antoljak. AI is not as expensive as it is thought and it has many benefits, he added.

"Tourism organisations and companies, by applying AI, can reduce costs by about 70%, and more than 90% in the world are already investing in these tools because those investing in them have revenue growth potential of 15 to 25 per cent in a short time."

In tourism, AI is mostly used for apps and in-room technology, he said, but added that 89% of hotels in Croatia don't use that.

(Hina) 

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