Alain St.Ange: AI becoming heartbeat of emotion in tourism new era

Alain St.Ange, a tourism leader from Seychelles, delivered a compelling address on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel industry at the International AI Excellence & Diplomacy Summit held on Tuesday in the House of Lords in London.

According to a press release, St.Ange, the former Seychelles Minister and head of the "Saint Ange Consultancy," urged industry professionals to embrace AI as a fundamental tool for progress and connection.

According to a press release, he said that AI is no longer a distant concept but an integral part of the industry's infrastructure, acting as a "global megaphone" that amplifies customer experiences.

St.Ange stressed the importance of proactively managing one's digital reputation, as AI makes the unfiltered opinions of past customers directly accessible to future ones.

A central theme of the address was the rise of "Emotional Tourism," where the feelings shared by previous guests increasingly dictate future bookings.

"AI is also becoming the heartbeat of emotion in travel," St.Ange stated, explaining that businesses must craft and share positive messages to ensure AI echoes their strengths and builds a favourable online consensus.

Looking forward, St.Ange painted a vivid picture of the future, including AI-powered personal concierges, robotic hotel staff, and interactive 3D destination tours.

While acknowledging challenges like data privacy and building trust in AI, he framed them as "signposts guiding us toward a more responsible and innovative future."

He shared projections that the AI market in tourism will reach nearly $14 billion by 2030, emphasising the urgency to adapt.  

St.Ange concluded with a powerful call to action, asking not if the industry will adapt, but how it will lead the change. His message was clear: “The future of travel lies in a thoughtful partnership between technology and humanity to create richer, more meaningful experiences for everyone.”