WHY DO TRAVELLERS USE AI FOR TRAVEL PLANS
According to travellers, instead of browsing numerous websites, travel blogs, and comment sections, AI simplifies the process by providing a concise summary in a single chat. From offering approximate costs to updating them on opening and closing hours, AI delivers all the key details.
AI-generated representative image
CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAVELLERS USING AI
Prompts give generic information:While AI tools like Chat GPT, Gemini, and Co-pilot can provide generic information for itineraries, travellers suggest that providing as detailed information as possible such as distance, food preference, hobbies, likes and dislikes, and age group of the traveller – will help get better itineraries planned by AI.
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While planning a day in Vienna, I asked AI to create an itinerary for a tourist who felt lazy and had an interest in art and culture. Instead of sifting through multiple websites for information, the detailed prompts provided a good starting point for the trip. But one can’t overly rely on the itinerary shared by AI
Sagar Dave, a Pune-based traveller
Inaccuracy in details: One needs to verify the information given by AI from different sources. “While the AI tool will give basic details, the information needs to be verified from different sources as there is still a concern about inaccuracy in details such as distance, the time needed for travel, time of travelling,” explains Gurgaon-based Abhishek Baxi, who used AI tool to plan his day in San Francisco and Singapore.
Lack of information about unpopular hidden spots: AI can only provide details about places that are available online. AI often overlooks unique interests or hidden gems and tends to focus on popular tourist spots.
Change in pricing: AI-driven price fluctuations can cause travellers to see varying prices during their booking searches. This unpredictability can affect the travel planning and budgeting process, making it difficult to determine the best time to book.
Over-reliance on AI tools: Travellers who use AI tools say that relying on its suggestions can lead to missing important real-time factors like the weather or local changes. “In addition to lacking real-time updates, AI will only show information like entry cost, working hours/days, or service closures based on the last time it was updated online,” adds Dave.
Lack of human assistance: “While AI chatbots and virtual assistants aim to reduce the workload of customer service agents, in emergencies, we typically seek human interaction for effective solutions. AI responses often lack the empathy and flexibility required to address urgent issues,” says Gaurav Satam, a Mumbai resident.
Despite the advancements in AI technology, it cannot replace travel agents and tour operators, who offer essential human interaction for creating tailored trip plans and customised itineraries
Jay Bhatia, Vice President of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
AI is not a replacement for human ingenuity. While it automates certain tasks in customer-facing roles, it complements rather than replaces professionals like travel agents or tour guides. By providing valuable data on customer preferences and trends, AI enables these professionals to offer more proactive, personalised service
Vijeta Soni, co-founder of a tech company specialising in automated price optimisation solutions for the travel industry
LIMITATION OF AI TOOLS FOR ORGANIZERS
According to industry experts, “Garbage in, garbage out” is a fundamental concept when working with AI. “We recognise that AI tools are only as effective as the quality of the data they receive. Poor data input inevitably leads to unreliable results,” says Vijeta Soni, co-founder and ceo, Sciative Solutions. “A key challenge is maintaining clean, organized data, which requires ongoing effort. Once managed, the next hurdle is analysing it to extract real-time, scalable insights. Many companies rely on AI primarily for analysis,” she adds.
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