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UN Report Urges Entrepreneurs to Leverage AI in Tourism

Shibara Island, one of the Red Sea projects in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Shibara Island, one of the Red Sea projects in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Report Urges Entrepreneurs to Leverage AI in Tourism

Shibara Island, one of the Red Sea projects in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Shibara Island, one of the Red Sea projects in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is accelerating its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its tourism sector, aiming to enhance its global leadership in technological innovation and modernize the industry. As the government invests in AI-driven solutions to transform tourism, private sector companies are urged to keep pace with these advancements. Experts say AI will not only improve efficiency but also drive innovation and help the sector navigate future challenges in an increasingly competitive global market.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has emphasized AI’s significance in shaping the future of tourism.

According to UNWTO estimates, AI is expected to contribute between $15.7 trillion and $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Generative AI alone could add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually. Recognizing these projections, UNWTO has intensified its focus on technological solutions, including AI, by launching initiatives such as the AI Challenge for Startups, which targets emerging and established companies demonstrating significant potential in tourism and technology.

Saudi Arabia’s AI-Driven Tourism Vision

Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps to integrate AI into its tourism industry, aligning with Vision 2030 and its commitment to transforming the sector. The government has invested heavily in technology and data analytics to support evidence-based decision-making for future developments. It has also formed partnerships with leading global AI firms to enhance capabilities and integrate advanced solutions.

The Kingdom has hosted conferences and events highlighting AI’s impact on tourism, including the “AI in Tourism” conference during the Global AI Summit in Riyadh. Additionally, it has established ethical AI guidelines to ensure sustainable sector growth.

Massive investments in smart city development and digital infrastructure further demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to AI-driven tourism. Projects such as NEOM and Qiddiya are prime examples of this strategy, integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance tourism offerings.

Saudi entrepreneurs and tourism specialists assert that local startups are well-prepared to accelerate AI adoption, ensuring a sustainable and technologically advanced tourism sector. AI is expected to serve as a transformational force in the industry, particularly as the Kingdom undergoes rapid progress and records high growth rates in global tourism indicators.

Challenges

Despite enthusiasm and readiness for AI integration, several challenges remain. Promoting digital literacy across the tourism sector, encouraging innovation to keep up with global advancements, and ensuring seamless AI integration across various industry segments are key hurdles.

Naif Abdullah Al-Rajhi, CEO of Fursan Travel and Tourism, stressed the importance of innovation in aligning with Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions. He noted that modern technologies could help increase the annual number of tourists to 150 million by 2030. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he explained that developing and implementing AI technologies across operations, management, and services would significantly enhance the sector’s efficiency and contribute to achieving Vision 2030 goals. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s investment in large-scale tourism projects, reinforcing the country’s long-term aspirations.

Al-Rajhi emphasized that integrating AI-driven data applications for evaluating tourism activities and projects is essential, as the industry is becoming an increasingly important economic driver for the Kingdom.

Risk Mitigation

Nasser Al-Ghailan, founder and CEO of Amala Tourism Investment, pointed out that Saudi businesses are aware of the country’s rapid tourism expansion and must accelerate AI adoption through risk-mitigation strategies that ensure sustainable growth. He underlined the need for tourism companies to adapt quickly to AI-driven transformations, allowing them to deliver highly accurate travel recommendations, provide comprehensive destination insights, and conduct in-depth data analysis for improved decision-making.

Supporting AI-powered solutions enhances efficiency and improves the traveler experience. Al-Ghailan stressed that AI is essential for meeting evolving customer expectations, from optimizing services to enhancing visitor experiences, solidifying tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth.

Business Efficiency

General Manager of Al-Sarh Travel and Tourism Muhaibib Al-Muhaibib explained that AI is fueling innovation in the tourism industry and driving sustainability efforts. He noted that the rapid development of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has paved the way for AI-driven business efficiencies and improved guest experiences.

He further stated that Saudi Arabia’s investment in technology and data analytics has played a crucial role in enhancing commercial operations and creating seamless experiences for tourists. AI’s influence extends beyond basic service improvements, impacting key sectors such as transportation, hospitality, and aviation.

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Türkiye’s Simsek Seeks to Calm Investors, Says Market Strains Will Be Managed, Sources Say

People flash mobile phone lights during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
People flash mobile phone lights during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
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Türkiye’s Simsek Seeks to Calm Investors, Says Market Strains Will Be Managed, Sources Say

People flash mobile phone lights during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
People flash mobile phone lights during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 25, 2025. (Reuters)

Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan told international investors on Tuesday that they would do whatever was needed to tame market turmoil triggered by the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival.

Police detained Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's main political rival, last Wednesday, and a court jailed him on Sunday pending trial on corruption charges, sparking Türkiye's biggest protests in more than a decade and a major market sell-off.

Simsek told investors he would not comment on judicial matters and the events of the last two weeks, but said there would be no lasting impact on the economy and that he intended to stay in his post, according to two sources on the call.

He also said there would be no change in approach to the economic turnaround program he introduced in mid-2023 when the country was in the midst of its most recent currency crisis.

"They steered almost completely clear of the political crisis," one participant on the call said.

A statement from the finance ministry after the call confirmed that Simsek had reiterated his view that there would be no lasting damage to the economy and that further measures would be taken if needed.

Central bank governor Fatih Karahan told the call that he sees the market turmoil as a temporary blip, one participant said. He also repeated something Simsek had said earlier, that Türkiye will do "whatever it takes" to tame inflation, two sources said.

Journalists were not invited to the call, but participants said Simsek added that the Treasury could reduce bond issuance as part of its response, and that it also had the option of so-called FX-linked bonds, that give buyers some protection against big currency swings.

The minister also said he expected Türkiye to benefit from better bilateral relations with the United States. Later on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is to meet Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio in Washington.

Veteran emerging market analyst Tim Ash at fund manager BlueBay said the call, which also detailed how "offshore" investors had accounted for 60% of FX demand during last week's selloff, had been a "coordinated effort to engage with the international investment community, and re-assure."

REBOUND

Markets were continuing to stabilize after the call drew to a close with the Istanbul stock market finishing the day up 4.5% and the lira steady at just under 38 to the dollar.

The Borsa Istanbul ended last week down 16.6%, its worst drop since the peak of the global financial crisis in October 2008. The lira had dropped more than 10% at the height of the rout on Wednesday.

Tuesday's moves also saw the banking sub-index win back another 5.3%. It slumped more than 26% last week and has now recovered around 7.5% of that.

The Treasury, central bank, the BDDK banking watchdog and capital markets board had already held a series of meetings with market actors over the weekend and announced several steps.

The measures had begun with the central bank raising the upper band of the interest rate corridor by 2 points to 46% in an interim meeting last week, pausing funding from the policy rate.

While the central bank took a tightening step of close to 400 basis points, it also sold around $14 billion in foreign exchange. Additionally, it has started liquidity note issuance and TL-settled forward foreign exchange sales transactions.

The Turkish central bank's net FX position dropped by some $27 billion due to FX sales last week since Wednesday, according to bankers' calculations from the bank's balance sheet.

Short selling on the Istanbul stock market has been banned for one month.

Türkiye's international sovereign bonds were also continuing to claw back some of last week's losses, with the 2045 maturity up almost 1 cent on the dollar at 84.6 cents on the dollar, Tradeweb data showed, after falling more than 3 cents last week.

Türkiye's five-year credit default swaps, which investors often use as a hedge against turmoil, eased again too, ending the day back under 300 basis points according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, having spiked to almost 330 from 260 last week.

Turkish lira implied FX volatility gauges and risk reversals eased slightly, although they remained highly elevated, having soared to their highest levels since the country's last currency crisis in mid-2023, data from Fenics showed.

Ahead of Tuesday's investor call, Himanshu Porwal, EM analyst at Seaport Global had said that the markets had already been reacting positively to the measures taken to settle the markets in recent days.

"I think they (central bank, finance minister) have been doing what is required. FX is usually the first trigger you look at and so far the move has been contained, so I think people are coming to terms with it already," Porwal said.