The low artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and slow adoption of new technology in Hong Kong’s tourism industry may be holding the city back from realising its full potential as a world-class destination, according to an expert panel at the Redefining Hong Kong conference on culture, sports and tourism, recently hosted by the Post.

In 2024, the Hong Kong government launched its “Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0” that included the promotion of smart tourism: to use technology and data to create more sustainable, accessible and efficient tourism experiences that benefit both visitors and the local community.

While the travel industry welcomed the five-year plan, it currently lacks the tech talent and training to realise those goals, said Derek Tse Yue-tak, general manager of ecotourism company Eco Travel.

“We have to improve ourselves with the help of technology. We need more training and also professional development, especially for tour guides and operators,” he said.

“We have over 1,700 tour operators in Hong Kong, but most of them are still working in a really traditional way without the help of technology. The industry has to be trained to face this [changing] market.”

Hong Kong tech entrepreneur Yat Siu said AI literacy in the city is relatively weak.