Digital Technology Empowers the Development of the Tourism Industry (International Perspective)

Brazil, Italy, Indonesia Promote the Digital Transformation of the Tourism Industry - Digital Technology Empowers the Development of the Tourism Industry (International Perspective)

　　In the Colosseum Archaeological Park, visitors are learning about the history of Ancient Rome through multimedia displays.

　　Photo by reporter Xie Yahong

　　With the rapid development of information technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, the digital transformation of the global tourism industry is accelerating. Our reporter recently found that some countries such as Brazil, Italy, and Indonesia have actively taken measures to create a new immersive tourism experience with the help of digital technology, develop new formats such as online cultural tourism platforms, and continuously improve intelligent management and operation capabilities, and empower the development of the tourism industry through digital technology.

　　Brazil –

　　Tap into digital opportunities to enrich the travel experience

　　"Now you can enjoy the Capivalla Mountains National Park without leaving home!" "Through multi-angle high-definition photos taken by drones and 3D scans of ancient rocks, Coste, a high school student in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, feels like he is in the beautiful scenery of Capivalla Mountain, sometimes looking at the rolling green mountains under the blue sky and white clouds, sometimes stopping to look at the rock carvings and murals in the caves that are thousands or even tens of thousands of years old, and completing his school history homework through a virtual tour.

　　Recently, the Capivalla National Park in Brazil and the Geological Survey of Brazil jointly launched a virtual tour service. "The purpose of the virtual tour is to give people who don't have the opportunity to travel to the park, to stimulate curiosity and promote the development of the local ecotourism industry, and for those who have visited or are visiting our park, the virtual tour service can complement the viewing experience with clear images, videos and easy-to-understand commentary." ”

　　Brazil is rich in natural beauty and cultural monuments, and its tourism is distinctive. According to the data, Brazil received about 6 million international tourists in 2023, an increase of 62.7% compared to 2022. In recent years, Brazil has taken several initiatives to promote digital tourism. Brazil's Ministry of Tourism also awarded the "Smart Tourism Destinations in Transition" certificate to 10 cities, including Rio de Janeiro, in recognition of the city's efforts to increase its tourism attractiveness and provide more convenient, safe and sustainable travel experiences and services to tourists by advancing the digital transformation of tourism.

　　In March last year, the Brazilian Tourism Association announced the establishment of the Tourism Innovation and Development Center, hoping to help analyze the changes in consumer travel demand through big data and other products, so as to provide more targeted services. Mariana Aldrighi, head of research and data intelligence at the Brazilian Tourism Association, believes that tourists' spending habits are changing faster than ever before, and that relevant tourism data is playing an increasingly important role in decision-making. The team will use data to mine new travel patterns to suit the needs of different types of travelers.

　　Marcia Melchior, Rio de Janeiro tourism ambassador and president of the Rio Mountains and Rivers Art and Culture Association, told this reporter that smart tourism focuses on combining marketing strategies with a variety of digital technologies, so that tourists can more easily obtain information on innovative tourism products through digital communication media such as the Internet and mobile phone applications. At the same time, tourist destinations can grasp the number of tourists, travel preferences and other information in real time through digital means, and timely allocate supporting service resources such as buses, mobile catering vehicles, and health and medical security. Melchior also believes that the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analysis can monitor and manage the environmental impact of tourism and promote the sustainable development of tourism.

　　Italy –

　　Intensify support and actively participate in all parties

　　Exquisite and ornate murals, lifelike statues, magnificent and spectacular architectural ...... The Golden Palace was built in the 1st century AD, originally the palace of the ancient Roman emperors, after nearly 2000 years of baptism, the interior decoration of the building has long been mottled or even disappeared, but through virtual reality and augmented reality equipment, visitors can see the original murals, statues and the surrounding scenery of the building, deepen the understanding of ancient Roman history. According to reports, this is part of the ongoing digitization process of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, which has installed similar virtual reality equipment at many attractions in the park, and the park's official website has also launched many digital resources related to monuments and cultural relics, hoping to bring users an immersive experience.

　　As a major tourist country, Italy will reach 445 million domestic and foreign tourists in 2023, more than seven times the country's population. The increased digitalization of the tourism industry can help improve the efficiency of the industry, promote sustainability and enrich the visitor experience. In the Italian government's five-year plan for tourism development released earlier this year, digitalization has become one of the key development directions. The Italian government has earmarked 114 million euros from the recovery fund for the establishment of a digital tourism hub. Since the launch of the center at the end of last year, the Italian Ministry of Tourism has actively attracted all kinds of enterprises to join, and more than 4,000 tourism operators across the country have passed the qualification certification.

　　Everywhere in Italy is also taking action. The Business Association of Ferrara opens the Professional Course in Digital Tourism Marketing to the public free of charge, and participants will receive a professional certificate after half a year of study and internship. Five regions, including Liguria and Campania, have received permission from the Italian Ministry of Tourism to introduce an online "Destination Management System" tool in the tourism sector, using modular cloud computing to offer innovative solutions.

　　In addition, many companies are also actively developing innovative products related to the digitalization of the tourism industry. An Italian start-up called Smart Pricing has developed revenue management software for the hotel and B&B industry. According to statistics, the project has helped more than 2,500 hotels and B&Bs manage more than 1.5 million bookings, with an average increase of 30% in customer revenue. The company's co-founder, Luca Rodra, said that AI technology is essential to improve the quality of the service industry and the skills of those who work in it, and the company plans to expand its business from the hotel and accommodation industry to other sectors in the future.

　　Santenquet, Minister of Tourism, said that digitalization is important to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of the Italian tourism industry, and that the government will continue to work closely with social organizations and private enterprises to achieve systematic and synergistic growth of the tourism industry in the future.

　　Indonesia –

　　Launch of digital platforms to upgrade infrastructure

　　Open the official website of the National Museum of Indonesia, click on the "Start Virtual Tour" option, and the museum's simple and bright lobby will be instantly unfolded in front of you. Follow the arrow to enter the first exhibition hall, the website starts to automatically play the explanation, there is a small icon next to each exhibit, click to enter the exclusive page of the exhibits, zoom in, rotate to see the details of the cultural relics, and listen to the detailed explanation of the cultural relics...... Through the online virtual tour function, visitors can view all the exhibits of the museum, which can get a more immersive, detailed and comprehensive viewing experience than offline tours.

　　In addition to the online "virtual tour", the National Museum of Indonesia also opened an immersive experience room in 2022. The experience room uses immersive technology to project video content reflecting Indonesia's nature, society, and culture onto the walls and floors, allowing visitors to experience a more three-dimensional and authentic history. Since its opening, the Immersion Room has been very popular, and many tourists have come here to check in. Museum staff member Sapro said that by using this technology, the public can enjoy interactive audio-visual presentations that are not only fun but also easier to understand.

　　Indonesia is rich in tourism resources, and tourism plays an important role in the national economy. According to Indonesia's Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia received 11.68 million international tourists in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 98.3%, and the tourism industry contributed more than 4% to GDP. In 2019, the Indonesian government proposed the "Wonderful Indonesia 4.0 Digital Tourism" plan to attract more tourists and enhance the international visibility and influence of Indonesia's tourism industry by increasing investment in the digitalization of the tourism industry.

　　In October 2023, Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy launched the virtual world platform "Indonesia Wonder Universe". After logging on to the website, visitors can experience traditional Indonesian games, watch virtual performances, visit popular attractions, and other things under the guidance of a virtual guide, and can purchase air tickets, souvenirs, and more through relevant links.

　　Indonesia is also actively strengthening the construction of digital infrastructure for tourism destinations. The network infrastructure developed by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will be piloted in five priority development sites and some tourist villages, and will be further covered in all areas, including remote areas, in the future. According to the characteristics of their own landscapes, such as natural scenery, cultural landscapes, rare animals, etc., some popular attractions use different technical means to provide unique virtual tours, and use social media platforms to broadcast live to attract more young people.

　　Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said that the development of smart tourism and digital infrastructure is essential to enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesia's tourism industry, enhance the attractiveness of the tourism industry, and create more jobs.

　　(Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Jakarta, April 24)