AI and the Future of Caribbean Tourism

by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

The stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry may have to do some rethinking. AI may significantly change the way tourists look for a destination and which hotel to choose.

Tourists may not spend a lot of time anymore checking out websites to read what is offered there. AI skips the biddly-boo. They may not use the websites of on-line travel agencies and compare one with another. AI makes the process easier. Just provide specifics what one is looking for in a vacation and let AI find the answers.

An example:
I’m looking for a vacation in the Caribbean, rich nature, access from New York, low price, 2 persons, January, nightlife

Following was the AI response:

“That sounds like a fantastic plan! Here are a few Caribbean destinations that might be perfect for your vacation:

• Dominican Republic (Punta Cana): Known for its beautiful beaches, lush nature, and vibrant nightlife, Punta Cana offers all-inclusive resorts that are reasonably priced and easily accessible from New York.
• Jamaica (Montego Bay): Montego Bay is a popular destination with stunning beaches, rich natural beauty, and a lively nightlife. There are many affordable all-inclusive resorts that cater to couples.
• Cancun, Mexico: Cancun offers a mix of beautiful beaches, rich cultural heritage, and a vibrant nightlife. There are many all-inclusive resorts that provide great value for money and are easily accessible from New York.
• Aruba: Aruba is known for its stunning beaches, clear waters, and vibrant nightlife. It’s also reasonably priced and accessible from New York.
• Puerto Rico: With its lush rainforests, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife, Puerto Rico is a great choice for a Caribbean getaway. It’s also easily accessible from New York.

Would you like more information on any of these destinations, or do you have a specific preference?” AI asks.

Then the next step would be to tell AI which of these five destinations one is interested in. So, I asked the same question but instead of Caribbean, I named one of the five above destinations. I’m neither going to show you the chosen destination nor the hotels/resorts in the AI response, for the simple reason that I’m not promoting any particular destination. Just providing information on how things work:

“xxxxx” is a fantastic choice for a Caribbean vacation! Here are some options for all-inclusive resorts that offer great value, rich nature, and vibrant nightlife:

• Adults Only – All Inclusive, this resort offers stunning beaches, clear waters, and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Prices start at around $689 per person for a 3-night stay with roundtrip flights included.
• Adults Only – All Inclusive, this resort provides a luxurious experience with beautiful surroundings and top-notch amenities. Prices start at around $1,176 per person for a 3-night stay with roundtrip flights included.
• Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun – Adults Only – All Inclusive: This resort offers a fantastic beachfront location, a variety of dining options, and a vibrant nightlife scene. Prices start at around $1,564 per person for a 3-night stay with roundtrip flights included.
• All Inclusive: Located in xxxx, this resort features stunning ocean views, multiple swimming pools, and a lively atmosphere. Prices start at around $802 per person for a 3-night stay with roundtrip flights included.

These resorts offer a mix of relaxation, adventure, and entertainment, making them perfect for a memorable vacation in xxxx. Would you like more details on any of these options, or do you have any specific preferences?” AI asks.

And one could continue the AI communication. Isn’t that experience much easier in terms of trying to figure out where you want to stay and what you want to do, as opposed to getting a list of a thousand hotels in an order that may or may not meet your specific preferences and what you actually want out of that trip?

The new normal is not going to be the same as the old normal. This is an obvious example wherein customers can see a real difference in what gen AI can do to help them with the travel discovery process. So now the various tourism and hospitality stakeholders may have to rethink how they spend their money on advertising, promotions, road tours or conference/exhibition visits.

More thought should be given to AI technology and how the algorithms and processing of available data work. And then adept to what becomes the new normal, that means new strategies, budget changes, summarized “Re-Thinking”.

Moliere, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world literature
once wrote: “Beauty without intelligence is like a hook without bait.” One wonders what he would say about “Beauty without Artificial Intelligence”?