Bengaluru, September 28: Artificial Intelligence and digital technology should not be limited to making tourism “smart”, but should be used to make the sector more inclusive, sustainable and meaningful, Karnataka Energy and Tourism Minister K. J. George said on Sunday.
Speaking at the World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations, where he joined Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar in presenting the Karnataka Tourism Awards, George said Karnataka needs to move beyond digital marketing towards a connected digital ecosystem that improves the overall visitor experience.
“We should use Artificial Intelligence not merely to make tourism smarter, but to make it more inclusive, sustainable and meaningful,” George said. He stressed that the benefits of technological transformation should reach not only large companies but also homestay owners, tourist guides, artisans, small entrepreneurs and young people.
AI for Personalised Travel Experiences
George said AI-powered tourism services could help visitors create personalised itineraries based on their interests, travel duration and specific requirements. Such platforms could also provide multilingual information and connect tourists with recognised tourism service providers. The Tourism Department is working towards developing technology-driven solutions in this direction, he said.
AI and data analytics could further help the department understand visitor movement, seasonal demand, destination popularity, accommodation patterns and infrastructure requirements. This data could support evidence-based planning and more effective destination management.
Bengaluru’s Technology Ecosystem
Minister said Bengaluru's strong technology, startup and research ecosystem could be leveraged to develop solutions for smart destinations, multilingual tourism services, virtual experiences, visitor-flow management and sustainable tourism. He also highlighted the need to digitally empower smaller players in the tourism sector, including small hotels, homestays, guides, transport operators, artisans and local entrepreneurs, through training and technology support.
Karnataka Tourism Awards Presented in 35 Categories
For the first time in the history of the Department, the Karnataka Tourism Awards were presented across 35 categories. Awards recognised contributions from different segments of the tourism industry, including hospitality, tour operations, tourist guiding, startups, rural tourism, sustainable initiatives, heritage destinations and allied sectors.
Congratulating the award winners, George said Karnataka’s next phase of tourism growth would require close collaboration between the Government, tourism industry, technology companies, academic institutions and local communities.
Keywords: Karnataka tourism 2026, KJ George tourism, AI in tourism, Karnataka Tourism Awards, World Tourism Day 2026, sustainable tourism Karnataka, Citizen News Puttur