The AI Revolution in Tourism: The disruption of Generative AI

Do you trust an Artificial Intelligence to be your fellow travel advisor? ??

The advent of Generative A.I., especially ChatGPT and Bard, is set to revolutionise, in many ways, how people travel. But, already today, this technology has the potential to simplify and streamline the travel discovery process, making it easier and faster for travellers to find the perfect itinerary for their next trip.

The discovery process is the first part of the travel journey, where travellers explore different destinations and decide their travel plans. ChatGPT or Bard can simplify this process by asking the A.I. to suggest a travel itinerary. By providing a few details, such as preferred destinations, budget, travel dates, and interests, ChatGPT (or Bard, when available) can generate a customised itinerary that fits the traveller's needs and preferences.

Do you want proof? I asked ChatGPT for a suggestion for a 15-day itinerary in Japan without any specific requests, but simply asking:

What is the best 15-day itinerary to visit Japan for a first-time visitor?         

???Here's a popular 15-day itinerary for first-time visitors to Japan:

• Day 1-2:?Arrive in Tokyo and spend time exploring the city. Check out popular sites like Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and Meiji Shrine.
• Day 3-4:?Head to Kyoto and spend two days exploring the city's many temples, shrines, and traditional neighborhoods like Gion. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and participate in a traditional tea ceremony.
• Day 5-6:?Take a day trip to Nara to see the famous Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park with its roaming deer. Return to Kyoto for the night.
• Day 7-8:?Take a bullet train to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn about the city's history and the bombing in 1945. Take a ferry ride to Miyajima Island to see the famous floating torii gate.
• Day 9-10:?Return to Kyoto and take a day trip to the scenic Arashiyama area to visit the famous bamboo forest and Tenryu-ji Temple.
• Day 11-12:?Take a bullet train back to Tokyo and spend time in the Harajuku district to experience the city's unique fashion and pop culture. Visit the famous Shibuya Crossing and have a traditional sushi meal.
• Day 13-14:?Visit Mount Fuji and the nearby hot springs town of Hakone for a scenic and relaxing experience. Soak in a hot spring, take a scenic boat ride, and enjoy the beautiful views.
• Day 15:?Return to Tokyo for one last day of shopping and experiencing the city's unique atmosphere before departing from Japan. Visit the bustling Tsukiji fish market and have one last delicious meal in the city.

This itinerary covers many of the most famous and popular sites in Japan and should provide a good introduction to the country's rich culture, history, and cuisine. However, feel free to adjust as needed to fit your personal interests and schedule. Enjoy your trip!

Of course, it can be a starting point, and then customisation can be made.

But now, think about how much time it would have taken to plan it on your own.?

The AI-generated itineraries could be further personalised, considering the traveller's unique travel style and preferences and providing recommendations they may not have considered otherwise. This ease of use will lower the friction in the discovery process, allowing travellers to quickly find and book their ideal itinerary. For example, I entered the following prompt:?

Optimise the previous trip. I don't want to return in the same place twice. 
Rewrite the entire itinerary. Prioritise cultural activities. 
Local food experience is a must. 
Consider more time for technology and pop culture. ??        

???Here's a revised 15-day itinerary for your trip to Japan that focuses on cultural activities and experiences, with a mix of technology and pop culture, and a relaxing pace while minimising hotel changes and returns to the same place:

Day 1 & 2: Tokyo

• Arrive in Tokyo and check into your hotel
• Visit the Shibuya Crossing: Shibuya Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world and a must-see spot in Tokyo.
• Visit the Meiji Shrine: Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the heart of Tokyo dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.
• Explore the Harajuku area: Harajuku is a neighborhood in Tokyo famous for its street fashion and pop culture.

Day 3 & 4: Tokyo

• Visit the Tokyo Skytree: The Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in Japan and offers panoramic views of the city.
• Visit the Akihabara area: Akihabara is a neighborhood famous for its technology and pop culture. Walk around the area and check out the electronics shops and gaming arcades.
• Visit the Ueno Park: Ueno Park is a large public park in Tokyo and home to several museums, temples, and shrines, including the Tokyo National Museum.
• Visit the Senso-ji Temple: Senso-ji is a Buddhist temple in Tokyo and one of the city's oldest and most popular tourist spots.

Day 5 & 6: Nikko

• Take a train from Tokyo to Nikko
• Check into your hotel in Nikko
• Visit the Toshogu Shrine: The Toshogu Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nikko dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
• Visit the Ryuzu Waterfall: The Ryuzu Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall located near Nikko and is a popular spot for hiking and picnicking.
• Explore the surrounding area and enjoy the natural beauty of Nikko.

Day 7 & 8: Hakone

• Take a train from Nikko to Hakone
• Check into your hotel in Hakone
• Take a cable car and ropeway up Mount Owakudani: Mount Owakudani is an active volcanic area in Hakone known for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji.
• Take a cruise on Lake Ashinoko: Lake Ashinoko is a scenic lake in Hakone and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area.
• Explore the surrounding area and enjoy the natural beauty of Hakone.

Day 9 & 10: Kyoto

• Take a bullet train (Shinkansen) from Hakone to Kyoto
• Check into your hotel in Kyoto
• Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine: Fushimi Inari is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates.
• Visit the Gion district: Gion is a traditional neighborhood in Kyoto famous for its tea houses and geisha culture.
• Explore the city and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto.

Day 11 & 12: Kyoto

• Visit the Kinkaku-ji Temple (The Golden Pavilion): The Kinkaku-ji Temple is a Zen temple in Kyoto famous for its golden exterior and beautiful gardens.
• Visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a peaceful grove of towering bamboo in Kyoto.
• Visit the Tō-ji Temple: Tō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto known for its beautiful pagoda and historic atmosphere.

Explore the city and continue to immerse yourself in the cultural heritage of Kyoto.

Day 13 & 14: Hiroshima

• Take a bullet train (Shinkansen) from Kyoto to Hiroshima
• Check into your hotel in Hiroshima
• Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial to the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and serves as a symbol of peace.
• Visit the Miyajima Island: Miyajima Island is a beautiful island near Hiroshima famous for its giant torii gate and beautiful temples and shrines.
• Explore the city and learn about the history of Hiroshima and its journey towards peace.

Day 15: Departure

• Check out of your hotel and depart from Hiroshima for your return trip home.

Now try to imagine how significantly this could impact travel agents and travel agencies.

With this ability to provide highly personalised and efficient itineraries, these A.I. technologies have the potential to disrupt the traditional travel agency model, making it easier for travellers to plan their trips on their own. However, travel agents and agencies adopting these technologies can differentiate themselves from their competitors and offer their clients a more streamlined, efficient, and personalised service.?

I will expect that some OTA will very soon implement ChatGPT or Bard technology, providing a discovery process that will be seamlessly integrated with the booking process. This will simplify the entire travel journey for travellers, allowing them to find and book their ideal itinerary on a single platform.

It is widely known that ChatGPT does not have access to the Internet, making it currently impossible to go beyond itinerary suggestions. On the other hand, when this technology is integrated into the Bing search engine and have full access to the web, the results can be truly remarkable! This is what a similar request made to Bing Chat, powered by ChatGPT, would look like:

(Bing private beta images, courtesy Leonardo Piras)

It is pretty clear how ChatGPT, Bard, and Generative A.I. have the full potential to change how people travel by simplifying and streamlining the discovery process. By providing highly personalised and efficient itineraries, these technologies can make travel planning easier, faster, and more enjoyable for everyone. Whether used by travel agents and travel agencies or integrated into online travel booking platforms, these technologies can revolutionise the travel industry and provide a better travel experience for all.

The A.I. Revolution is just at the beginning.

?? Check it out also this interesting example about a Destination using Generative AI to create a promotional video .

?? More in the same topic:

• How Generative AI is Revolutionising Destination Management

#Artificialintelligence #ChatGPT #Bard #Travel #bing #Technology #personalization #Frictionless #tourism