China’s Zhejiang province has launched Zhejiang Travel, a cutting-edge digital platform designed to enhance the travel experience for international visitors. Unveiled at the World Tourism Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou, this AI-powered, all-in-one smart service hub marks a significant milestone for China’s inbound tourism sector. By integrating various services such as hotel bookings, payment systems, and public transportation, Zhejiang Travel offers a seamless, personalized experience for travelers. With its advanced technology, the platform aims to simplify travel logistics, making it easier for international tourists to explore Zhejiang while promoting the region’s cultural and natural attractions.

On Thursday, a cutting-edge digital platform was unveiled at the World Tourism Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, marking a significant milestone in enhancing the travel experience for international visitors. The platform, dubbed Zhejiang Travel, is China’s first-ever AI-powered, all-in-one smart service hub specifically designed for inbound tourism, according to Chen Guangsheng, the director of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism.

The Zhejiang Travel platform is fully integrated with two of China’s most widely used mobile applications: WeChat and Alipay. It offers a seamless experience for international travelers by combining several essential services under one roof, making it easier for visitors to navigate the province’s attractions, accommodations, and local transportation systems.

One of the most striking features of the platform is its ability to generate customized travel itineraries tailored to the preferences and needs of each user. With a simple scan of a unique travel code, tourists can not only book hotels and make payments but also access local public transportation, a feature that simplifies the travel process. The app takes it a step further by offering personalized itineraries that are created after users input details such as their travel dates, group size, preferences, and budget. This ensures that travelers receive tailored recommendations for their visit, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Among the early adopters of the Zhejiang Travel platform is Kim Su-young from South Korea, who praised the application for its convenience and user-friendliness. As one of the first international visitors to use the platform, Kim was able to experience the AI assistant’s full capabilities during her visit to Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s capital. The app generated a detailed, personalized itinerary for her two-night, three-day trip, which included a visit to the famous Longjing village for a tea-tasting experience, a food guide highlighting the best dishes along Southern Song Imperial Street, and a tour of the renowned Lingyin Temple. The itinerary was not only easy to follow but also highly customized to her interests. Kim particularly appreciated the platform’s translation function, which proved invaluable in overcoming potential language barriers, allowing her to navigate the local area with ease.

The introduction of this platform comes as Zhejiang continues to experience significant growth in international tourism. In 2024, provincial authorities reported a remarkable surge in the number of foreign nationals visiting the province, with 130,900 international travelers entering Zhejiang via visa-free entry. This represents an impressive 873 percent increase compared to the previous year, making up 32.7 percent of all foreign arrivals to the province. These figures highlight the province’s growing appeal to international tourists, and the Zhejiang Travel platform is poised to further solidify its position as a premier travel destination.

The launch of this AI-powered platform is particularly timely, as it aligns with the Chinese government’s broader initiatives to enhance tourism and improve visitor experiences across the country. By leveraging advanced technology, Zhejiang is setting a new standard in how tourism services can be delivered, offering visitors a more efficient, seamless, and enjoyable way to explore the province.

Additionally, the platform provides a wealth of localized information and insights, helping international visitors navigate not only the typical tourist attractions but also off-the-beaten-path gems that they may not have discovered otherwise. By using AI to curate personalized itineraries, the platform encourages tourists to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Zhejiang, while also promoting sustainable tourism by encouraging visitors to explore lesser-known areas of the province.

With the integration of both booking and payment features, the Zhejiang Travel platform eliminates many of the logistical hurdles often faced by international travelers. It removes the need for multiple apps or physical cash, allowing users to manage their entire travel experience with a few simple clicks. This all-encompassing approach to digital tourism makes it easier than ever for visitors to enjoy their time in Zhejiang without worrying about administrative tasks.

Moreover, the platform’s strong presence on popular Chinese apps such as WeChat and Alipay ensures it reaches a broad audience, particularly among younger, tech-savvy travelers who are accustomed to using smartphones for virtually every aspect of their daily lives. By meeting tourists where they are already spending their time, Zhejiang Travel seamlessly integrates into their travel experience, allowing them to make the most of their visit without the need for additional learning curves or technology.

As Zhejiang continues to grow as a destination for international tourism, the introduction of the Zhejiang Travel platform reflects the province’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation. By offering international visitors a personalized, AI-driven travel experience, Zhejiang is positioning itself as not just a tourist destination, but a leader in the future of smart tourism.

China’s Zhejiang province has launched the Zhejiang Travel platform, an AI-powered service hub designed to streamline the travel experience for international visitors. This innovative platform simplifies hotel bookings, payments, and transportation, making it easier for tourists to explore Zhejiang’s rich cultural and natural offerings.

Looking ahead, the platform’s impact could extend far beyond Zhejiang, potentially serving as a model for other provinces in China and even international destinations seeking to enhance their appeal to tech-savvy, global tourists. With its focus on convenience, customization, and cultural immersion, Zhejiang Travel is set to redefine the travel experience, making it easier for international visitors to explore the province while enjoying a seamless, hassle-free journey from start to finish.

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