AI in Entertainment and Tourism: Personalizing Experiences in Saudi Arabia

AI is transforming Saudi Arabia's entertainment and tourism sectors, delivering personalized experiences that enhance visitor satisfaction and drive industry growth. As the Kingdom strides steadily towards its ambitious Vision 2030 goals, AI has emerged as a powerful ally, fine-tuning every aspect of a visitor's journey. From the moment of inspiration to long after the journey ends, smart algorithms are working behind the scenes, ensuring each experience is as unique as the individual themselves. This AI-driven revolution is not just enhancing visitor satisfaction, it is reshaping the landscape of Saudi Arabia's entertainment and tourism industries.

Discover the most?prominent developments?and updates in the?field of AI through?our monthly newsletter.?Subscribe and stay informed!

Saudi Arabia's entertainment and tourism landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with substantial investments aimed at diversifying the economy and enhancing experiences for both residents and visitors. The government's focus on these sectors reflects a commitment to creating a vibrant society and thriving economy, key pillars of Vision 2030. In this context, AI is playing an increasingly important role in personalizing and enhancing visitor experiences. Consider these key statistics on the entertainment and tourism sector in Saudi Arabia:

• Saudi Arabia aims to attract 100 million annual visits by 2030.
• The tourism sector is expected to contribute more than 10% of Saudi Arabia's GDP by 2030, up from 3% in 2018.
• By 2030, 50% of tourists are expected to visit for leisure, 32% for religious tourism, 10% for visiting friends and family (VFR), and 9% for business tourism.
• AI spent by the Media/Entertainment industry in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach USD 1.5 Bn by 2030, a 25.5% CAGR since 2023.
• The establishment of the National Interactive Company (QSAS), a PIF funded company meant to develop immersive storytelling experiences, based on Saudi heritage and Islamic history, is expected to contribute to the creation of over 11,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030,

Sources: Saudi Tourism Authority (2024 Report); Vision 2030 (Tourism Goals); Reuters; PwC; Arab News; Entrepreneurship Middle East; Travel & Tour World; Grand View Research; AIQ analysis.

?

SCAI's Take:

AI in entertainment and tourism is set to radically transform these sectors by delivering highly personalized experiences, optimizing operations, and providing data-driven insights for decision-making. ?AI technologies are already customizing key touchpoints throughout the visitor experience, from pre-arrival planning to post-visit engagement. By leveraging AI for deep personalization, we can create more immersive and memorable experiences, driving increased visitor satisfaction and repeat visits. This will not only enhance the overall quality of tourism and entertainment offerings but also contribute significantly to economic growth by attracting more visitors and increasing engagement across various attractions and events.

To understand how AI is enhancing personalization in entertainment and tourism, let's consider several broad sets of activities happening in the context of travel and entertainment: Awareness and Discovery, Planning and Booking, On-site Experiences, Post-visit Engagement.?

Let's now explore how AI is transforming each of these activities with a focus on personalization.

?

?? Awareness and Discovery

AI technologies enhance awareness and discovery in tourism by leveraging machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data on traveler preferences, behaviors, and trends. These systems can predict emerging travel patterns, identify potential target markets, and personalize marketing efforts to reach the right audience with the right message at the right time. For example, The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has partnered with Artefact, a global AI and data company, to develop AI solutions for promoting Saudi Arabia as a leading tourism destination. This collaboration focuses on using AI and machine learning to gain deeper insights into traveler preferences and behaviors, enabling more targeted and personalized marketing campaigns.

?

?? Planning and Booking

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can radically upgrade the planning and booking process by offering personalized assistance 24/7. These systems use natural language processing to understand user queries and generative AI to provide tailored recommendations based on individual preferences, historical data, and real-time information. For instance, AI chatbots for tourism in Saudi Arabia, such as those being developed for destinations like Riyadh and AlUla, can offer personalized recommendations, historical context, and practical travel information. These chatbots generate human-like responses tailored to each user's individual preferences.? For example, a tourist planning a trip to Riyadh or AlUla might receive customized suggestions for must-visit landmarks or hidden gems based on their expressed interests.

?

?? On-site Experience

AI enhances on-site experiences through various technologies, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and smart infrastructure management. These systems use computer vision, real-time data processing, and predictive analytics to provide immersive, interactive, and personalized experiences while optimizing visitor flow and resource allocation. For instance, at UNESCO World Heritage sites like AlUla and Diriyah, AI-powered augmented reality is being used to offer visitors interactive and immersive tours. These AR applications allow tourists to take guided tours of ancient cities, engage with virtual reconstructions of historical sites, and access real-time information about the locations they visit. Additionally, AI-powered parking management platforms are emerging to improve urban mobility around entertainment venues and tourist sites.

?

?? Post-visit Engagement

AI systems analyze visitor data to enable highly personalized follow-up communications and ongoing engagement. Machine learning algorithms process information such as visited attractions, event attendance, dining preferences, and shopping habits to create tailored recommendations and personalized marketing campaigns. For example, AI can be used to suggest future events and tailored deals on frequently traveled routes based on a visitor's past experiences. It can also assist in efficiently managing rewards programs and reaching out to visitors who faced travel disruptions, providing support with claims and refunds. This personalized approach aims to enhance customer satisfaction, encourage repeat visits, and foster loyalty.

?

Enhanced Industry Collaboration Through AI

The Federation of Saudi Chambers, through its National Entertainment Committee, has recently announced plans to launch a new digital platform aimed at further advancing the entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia. This platform is designed to connect private companies involved in entertainment services, facilitate collaboration and resource sharing among businesses, and help companies organize and execute large-scale entertainment events more efficiently.

While specific AI implementations for this platform have not been detailed yet, such a centralized system presents significant opportunities for integrating and enabling AI-driven personalization and recommendation systems. The platform's ability to serve as a one-stop hub for the entertainment ecosystem could be further enhanced by AI technologies, potentially leading to more personalized and efficient entertainment offerings across the Kingdom.

?

/Aug. men. ted. Re. a. li. ty/

Augmented Reality (AR) supported by AI is a cutting-edge technology that overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing users' perception and interaction with their environment. In the context of Saudi Arabia's entertainment and tourism industry, AI enhances AR experiences by personalizing content, adapting to real-world contexts, and providing intelligent interactions. This technology allows for a seamless blend of the physical and digital worlds, creating more immersive and personalized experiences for visitors throughout their journey in Saudi Arabia.

?

SCAI is at the forefront of developing AI-driven personalization solutions in Saudi Arabia, with particular strength in the entertainment and tourism sectors. The company's expertise spans multiple industries, including sports, AdTech, and smart city initiatives.

Recently, SCAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Panda, a leading Middle Eastern retail company, and Faden Media, an innovative advertising firm. This strategic partnership aims to significantly upgrade in-store advertising at Panda's retail locations through the integration of advanced AI technologies and data analytics. By harnessing these capabilities, the collaboration will enable enhanced customer interaction and personalization in the shopping experience, while providing brands with deeper insights into consumer behavior to address customer needs more precisely.

SCAI's cross-sector personalization expertise is also evident in its diverse applications. In sports, the company's AI algorithms analyze athlete performance data to create tailored training regimens that optimize individual potential. In the advertising technology space, SCAI's solutions deliver highly personalized advertising experiences, significantly improving how brands connect with consumers.

Building on this comprehensive experience, SCAI can apply its expertise to the entertainment and tourism sector to create personalized visitor experiences that adapt to individual preferences and behaviors.

Stay tuned for further progress and updates on the latest AI news.

For more information, please visit our website www.scai.sa