Kuala lumpur: The TOURISE Destination Initiative (TDI) has been unveiled at the TOURISE Summit, bringing together global leaders from governments, international organizations, academia, and the private sector. This initiative aims to transform tourist destinations into living laboratories for innovative tourism practices.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative is guided by its Declaration of Principles, emphasizing safety, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community-focused development. This is achieved through responsible technology use and collaboration across multiple sectors.

The TDI is co-chaired by Aseer Province Governor, Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro. The founding members comprise 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, highlighted the critical role of urban destinations in the global tourism industry. He stated that it is crucial for no city worldwide to feel unsafe for its visitors or residents, emphasizing the importance of integrating safety innovations with responsible governance.

The initiative's inaugural project, 'AI for Tourism Safety', focuses on promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in TDI member destinations. This project is informed by insights from a white paper by the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR).

Authored by Mauricio Rodas, a Penn IUR visiting scholar and former Mayor of Quito, the paper addresses the ethical and operational challenges of AI in urban tourism. It was launched in conjunction with the TDI, aiming to guide cities in the ethical adoption of AI to enhance safety and establish new standards for transparency and trust amid rising crime, digital threats, and traveller anxiety.