Latest news with #SustainableTourism
Coin Geek
20 hours ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
Thailand revives tourism push; Lagos trials AI
Homepage > News > Business > Thailand revives tourism push; Lagos trials AI Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Thai authorities have launched a five-year plan to transform the local tourism ecosystem and strengthen its resilience to global economic uncertainties. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will spearhead the push to improve the industry, keeping in mind changing tourist behavior and emerging technology trends. The local tourism industry is keen on pivoting toward becoming a Sustainable Tourism Hub by 2028 while achieving additional milestones by the end of the decade. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the five-year tourism transformation plan comprises five core strategies. Firstly, the ministry leans on new metrics to measure quality and sustainability rather than a narrow focus on tourist arrival figures. Secondly, the five-year plan will focus on expanding tourism to secondary cities and promoting local economies rather than the primary cities of Bali and Bangkok. Authorities say the plan will broaden its reach beyond China to new markets like the Middle East and Latin America. The fourth arm of the ambitious plan will see local authorities introduce crisis preparedness systems to protect the tourist industry from unforeseen circumstances. Authorities will also roll out Tourist Risk Match Maps while offering visitors a Digital Health Passport in line with global health standards. At the heart of the plan is integrating emerging technologies into the local tourism industry. Authorities are mulling the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI) among industry service providers. To ease the integration, authorities will augment plans by upskilling the local workforce and interfacing with the legislative arm of government for tech-friendly regulations. Furthermore, there is an additional plan to leverage social media and launch smart platforms for tourists to simplify decision-making and increase safety and transparency standards. 'Everyone is now a broadcaster, and every opinion on social media can impact the national image,' said Sorawong. 'We must collectively build broad-based confidence.' The five-year plan is not Thailand's first attempt at improving the tourist experience. Earlier this year, authorities allowed visitors to the country to use digital currencies to pay for goods and services, testing the waters in Phuket while eyeing a nationwide rollout. Previously, the country soldiered toward a $14-billion digital money handout initiative to improve the local economy. Keen to improve digitalization, the country lifted restrictions on retail investment in digital assets while making progress with its retail central bank digital currency. Lagos integrates AI Elsewhere, Nigeria's most populous state and economic nerve center, Lagos, has hinted at plans to deploy AI to improve the state of drivers' training. State administrators met with high-ranking executives of the AI Driving Metaverse Group to explore the viability of AI-based training. The AI Driving Metaverse Group will offer AI-based simulators to driving schools in Lagos to overhaul traditional learning methods. In addition to learning simulators, the Group will offer AI-powered assessments and feedback to learners. AI Driving Metaverse Group CEO Daniel Avdagic disclosed that the suite of AI learning offerings extends to drivers with previously issued licenses, urging retraining with emerging technologies. If parties ink a deal, AI Driving Metaverse Group's AI-based learning solutions will be integrated into the Lagos State Drivers' Institute (LASDRI). The institute's attendees will use the firm's Driving Metaverse Simulator to test skills and personality in addition to real-world driving tests. The AI-based simulator will offer the perks of personalized training for learners while allowing instructors to simulate realistic learning conditions. Besides being a cost-effective alternative, driving school candidates can receive real-time feedback and the perk of zero risk for drivers and instructors. Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi lauded the initiative for its novel use of AI in real-world applications. Osiyemi expressed confidence that the Lagos State government will reach a deal with the AI Driving Metaverse Simulator, adding that LASDRI's training programs need to keep pace with digitalization. Furthermore, the Commissioner adds that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is the best route to integrate the AI Driving Metaverse Simulator into LASDRI. Currently, the state government will address all issues related to data privacy and the safety of AI training models for drivers. Keen to maintain its status as Nigeria's economic hub, Lagos is setting the pace for emerging technologies for public services. Last year, the state unveiled a blockchain-based solution to stifle the occurrence of land fraud to complement a real estate tokenization plan. Lagos is angling to benefit from Nigeria's plan to train 1,000 youth in blockchain and AI as the country warmly embraces digitalization. Furthermore, Nigeria and the United States have inked a bilateral arrangement to explore a collaboration on AI and the growth of digital economies on both sides of the Atlantic. In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek's coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI . Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Agoda and GSTC Launch Free Digital Training Platform to Empower Hoteliers with Sustainability Skills
SINGAPORE, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda, in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has launched the Sustainable Tourism Academy, a free digital training platform designed to equip current and aspiring hoteliers with practical sustainability tools and knowledge. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for sustainable accommodation options from increasingly sustainability-conscious travelers while driving transformation within Asia's hotel industry. The Sustainable Tourism Academy offers localized and tailored content to tackle the unique sustainability challenges faced by the region. The platform features interactive learning exercises, case studies, assessments, and discussion boards to create an engaging and comprehensive learning experience. Learning modules focus on how to attract sustainability-minded guests and develop sustainability strategies with insights and case studies from hotels across Asia. Available in English, Vietnamese, Malay, Thai, and Indonesian, the platform ensures accessibility for a broad audience of hospitality professionals across Southeast Asia. The self-paced platform allows participants to complete training modules at their convenience, making it ideal for busy hospitality professionals. Upon successful completion, participants receive a completion certificate jointly issued by GSTC and Agoda, formally recognizing their enhanced sustainability knowledge and skills. Damien Pfirsch, Chief Commercial Officer at Agoda, shared, "Through the Sustainable Tourism Academy, Agoda and GSTC are equipping hoteliers to drive meaningful change within the industry. Agoda is committed to scaling up this initiative, and by offering this platform free of charge, we're making sustainability education accessible, practical, and impactful for everyone in the Asian hospitality sector, from kitchen staff to general managers." Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer at Global Sustainable Tourism Council, added, "By providing free access to practical, localized sustainability training, GSTC and Agoda are empowering hoteliers to take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to making sustainability not just an aspiration, but a standard practice across the region." The training content is built around the GSTC Standard, the global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism. It covers key areas such as sustainable management, socioeconomic impacts, cultural impacts, and environmental impacts. Developed by Agoda's Sustainability Team and GSTC and its trainers, including CB Ramkumar (Vice Chair, GSTC), Mochamad Nalendra (CEO, Wise Steps Consulting), and Catherine Germier-Hamel (CEO, Destination Mekong), the content combines diverse expertise and real-world insights from leaders in the field. The platform was officially launched on Friday, 30 May, at an event in Bangkok, Thailand, which brought together over a hundred Southeast Asian hospitality professionals for in-depth conversations on emerging trends and challenges in sustainable tourism. The Sustainable Tourism Academy is free of charge and accessible to everyone, underscoring Agoda and GSTC's commitment to fostering a more sustainable future for all in travel. To explore the platform, visit --- ENDS --- View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Agoda
