AIs rapidly evolving role as a gatekeeper of information poses the risk of isolating small tour operators and compounding problems with the over-concentration of tourism in a handful of popular African destinations.
Rhino Africa CEO David Ryan told Tourism Update the rise of AI-powered search engines is reshaping how travellers plan and book journeys with a significant and potentially detrimental impact on tourisms digital marketing ecosystem.
Traditionally, the journey of booking a safari or African holiday began with inspiration a photograph of a lion, a honeymoon story from friends or a glossy travel magazine. Curiosity led travellers to Google where they waded through blogs, price comparisons and reviews.