TOURISE Launches Global Initiative To Make Cities Safer, Smarter For Tourists

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE, launches the TOURISE Destination Initiative, a global coalition to shape the future of tourism through a destination-centric approach, with co-chairs H.R.H. Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Aseer Province, and Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor of Venice. They are joined with the TDI founding members and mayors

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The TOURISE Destination Initiative (TDI) has been launched at the TOURISE Summit with global leaders from government, international organisations, academia, and the private sector, set to transform destinations into living laboratories for tourism innovation.

Guided by its Declaration of Principles, the initiative champions safety, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community-centred development through responsible technology and multi-sector collaboration.

TDI is co-chaired by Aseer Province Governor, Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro. Founding members include ministers, mayors, executives, and technology leaders from South Africa, Ecuador, the Maldives, Miami (United States), Chefchaouen (Morocco), Paris (France), Guatemala, Singapore, and Google.

Tourism Minister and TOURISE Chairman, Ahmed Al-Khateeb said urban destinations are the heartbeat of the global tourism industry, and it is imperative that no city, anywhere in the world, ever feels unsafe for its visitors or residents.

“Safety innovations must be anchored in responsible governance. By applying technology with foresight, we protect travellers and reinforce the trust that defines the future of tourism,” he said in a statement.

The initiative’s first project, “AI for Tourism Safety”, aims to promote the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in TDI member destinations. It builds on insights from a white paper by the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR).

Authored by Mauricio Rodas, Penn IUR visiting scholar and former Mayor of Quito, the paper explores the ethical and operational challenges of AI in urban tourism and was launched alongside TDI.

As cities face rising crime, digital threats, and traveller anxiety, the initiative will guide the ethical adoption of AI to enhance safety while establishing new benchmarks for transparency and trust.

-- BERNAMA