The new era of travel: AI, robots and regenerative experiences
The future of tourism is here, blending innovation with sustainability. Explore how regenerative practises and cutting-edge technology are reshaping the travel industry and creating a positive impact on communities and the planet.
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00:00From robot cabin crew to regenerative travel experiences, innovation is breathing new life
00:08into the tourism sector and profits are predicted to soar.
00:15Welcome to The Exchange from our studio here in Doha.
00:19Coming up on this episode, CEO and founder of the tourism space, Tina O'Dwyer, shares
00:24her thoughts on the rising popularity of regenerative tourism and its impact on the future of tourism.
00:29of the industry and chief commercial officer of Qatar Airways, Thierry Antinori, gives
00:35us a glimpse into the future of air travel.
00:38Now, a recent report by the World Economic Forum indicates that the future of tourism
00:42will be driven by technological innovation and big changes to the way tourists want to
00:47experience new destinations when they travel.
00:51One of the biggest emerging trends is a shift from traditional tourism focused on consumption
00:56to regenerative tourism, an approach where companies focus on creating a positive impact
01:02on local communities and the environment.
01:06And as tastes change, analysts are predicting that revenues across the sector will continue
01:11to rise.
01:12According to Statista, a leading online statistics portal, the tourism market as a whole is predicted
01:18to reach $916 billion of sales this year and grow annually at a rate of 3.9%, resulting
01:26in a market value of $1.1 trillion by 2029.
01:31Well, like so many other industries, artificial intelligence continues to transform the tourism
01:38sector.
01:40Innovations like biometrics at check-in desks and even robot assistants are popping up at
01:44airports all over the world.
01:47A recent analysis by software engineering firm EEPAM predicts that tourism specific
01:52AI will be worth $1.2 billion by 2026.
01:59Technological advancements are changing attitudes and putting the travel sector firmly back
02:04on track.
02:05Now, Tina O'Dwyer is CEO and co-founder of the tourism space, specialists in helping
02:10companies to develop regenerative tourism practices.
02:14I asked her how far new attitudes to travel might ultimately change people, communities
02:19and the planet.
02:22More than most other industries, tourism can do a lot for the well-being of places, the
02:26well-being of people, understanding of different cultures, broadening education and minds,
02:33and also really enhancing biodiversity and nature conservation through the way it carries
02:38out its activities.
02:40And I think if tourism started to see the positive parts it could bring to the sustainability
02:45and regeneration agenda, then we'd really see a positive model emerging into the future.
02:50It's not easy to make profit, but it's also not easy to save the planet.
02:53So we need to see profitable local businesses that can endure in communities over long periods
02:59of time.
03:00And we also need to recognise that it's going to require many more stakeholders than the
03:04businesses to influence our planetary conditions.
03:09So what does regenerative tourism look like in reality?
03:12Our reporter Phil Stebbing went to Wairapa in New Zealand to find out more.
03:17Hi, Guy.
03:19I'm here at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre, an award-winning leader in New Zealand's bid
03:25for regenerative tourism to boost local economies and to restore the environment.
03:30Pukaha contains just 900 hectares of a vast forest which indigenous Maori people once
03:36depended upon.
03:38This forest was literally our home, our food source and our medicine basket.
03:43We had to be integrated into a culture with their different perspectives on who we were
03:48as a people, and it wasn't always right.
03:51Today, Pukaha's tourism revenue is helping redress past wrongs.
03:56Funding an education centre and meeting house, it's all part of regenerating the Maori community.
04:06I'm very pleased to see how they are preserving their culture.
04:10The kids got to experience the carving.
04:12Carvers were very gracious, talking about the history behind the different objects.
04:18For tourists, there are comfortable lodges to rent, and six sites provide power for happy
04:23campers, which all brings in important revenue.
04:27I know the money that I'm spending here is all going towards the regeneration of this
04:31forest and the stories that are being told about the tribes that live in this area and
04:36the importance of this amazing place.
04:39Unlike other tourist businesses, Pukaha is not just focused on profit margins.
04:44We're not about just ensuring that the visitor numbers are coming through the large quantities.
04:49When we talk about regenerative tourism, we're trying to revitalise us as a people.
04:55It's about telling the stories.
05:00Regenerative tourism is partly about people before profits.
05:04But what about the very biggest travel brands?
05:06How are they planning to reshape the future of the sector?
05:10Thierry Antonori is the chief commercial officer of Qatar Airways.
05:14They recently retained their crown as Skytrax Airline of the Year.
05:17I sat down with Thierry here in Doha, and I asked him to explain what the future has
05:22in store for travel and tourism.
05:26I think the customer is looking for convenient and efficient value-for-money solutions in
05:33each segment.
05:34The customer has a very bright future, which will drive a lot of improvement in customer
05:40experience.
05:41It's already the case today, but biometrics, for instance, will considerably improve the
05:46customer experience at the airports.
05:49I think artificial intelligence will generate better content for the customer.
05:56Qatar Airways is very focused on that.
05:59We have the first digital human cabin crew, named SAMAR, which showcases our cabins with
06:06this new technology.
06:08You will get more and more relevant, personalised offers for you, fitting your needs, fitting
06:16the needs of your families.
06:18It's what the customer can expect.
06:22Now it's time for our regular feature, Business in 60 Seconds.
06:26Start the clock.
06:27Celtic PLC is preparing to announce its full-year 2024 earnings release.
06:31The world-famous Scottish football club is currently working on redeveloping its Barrafield
06:37training ground, aiming to create a top facility for youth and women's football.
06:42Construction is now underway after a long planning process.
06:45Investors will be interested to see how this project will affect its financial results
06:50in the coming year.
06:51British clothing and home products retailer NexPLC is preparing to announce its half-year
06:562024 earnings.
06:58The company is continuing its international expansion and is negotiating franchise and
07:02licence partnerships across Asia.
07:05Toys R Us, ANZ Ltd, the Australian and New Zealand branch of the toy retailer, is set
07:10to announce its full-year 2024 results.
07:13After exiting the UK market and transferring all assets to True Kids, the company is now
07:18focused on strengthening its presence in Australia.
07:21Investors will be eager to see how this move will drive growth in the Australian market.
07:28As we look to the future of tourism, AI is transforming how we travel, while regenerative
07:33practices ensure we do it responsibly.
07:36Together they're creating a new era of tourism that benefits both us and the planet, where
07:42technology and care for the environment go hand-in-hand.
07:45Well, that's all we have time for on this edition of the show.
07:50Please do check out Euronews.com for all your latest business news.
07:54And join us again next time on The Exchange.