Artificial intelligence is steadily finding a place in the tourism industry, prompting travel businesses to examine both its potential benefits and practical limitations. The growing role of technology in tourism was discussed at a meeting and debate organised by the Association of Tourism Service Providers of Bengal.
The discussion comes as digital tools and AI become increasingly integrated into sectors ranging from commerce and communication to travel planning. This year’s World Tourism Day theme also highlighted the role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in transforming tourism.
For travellers, AI-powered tools can make holiday planning faster and more convenient. Users can seek suggestions about destinations, accommodation, itineraries and the amount of time required for a trip within seconds. Such tools can help tourists organise preliminary plans without having to manually collect information from multiple sources.
However, tourism professionals have pointed to an important limitation: travel conditions can change rapidly, particularly during peak holiday periods. Hotel availability, train reservations, bus tickets and other travel arrangements may change within a short period. An itinerary generated by an AI system may therefore differ from the situation travellers actually encounter when they are ready to book.
Tourism businesses are consequently discussing how AI can complement, rather than replace, human expertise. Real-time verification, communication with hotels and transport operators, and professional guidance can remain important when circumstances change.
The debate reflects a broader transition in tourism, where AI is becoming a planning tool while industry professionals assess how reliably it can handle fast-changing travel conditions.
