Smart tech powers next phase of tourism: Pansy Ho

The integration of digital tools into tourism services is becoming increasingly vital as the global travel economy enters a new era of smart tourism, according to Pansy Ho Chiu King, Macau gaming executive and entrepreneur.

Speaking in her capacity as vice-chair and secretary-general of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, Ho made the remarks on Thursday at the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development 2025 in Beijing.

“The global tourism industry is at a critical juncture of recovery and transformation,” Ho was quoted as saying by the mainland newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily.

She stressed that the convergence of sustainable development, digital technology and intelligent infrastructure is “fundamentally reshaping” the way people travel, explore destinations and engage across cultures.

“We are entering an era of intelligent global tourism. The tourism economy is advancing into a new phase of smart development, with technology emerging as the key driver of innovation,” she said.

“Artificial intelligence is helping to create personalised travel experiences, while immersive technologies are breaking the spatial boundaries of traditional tourism,” Ho added. “From virtual itinerary design to the re-creation of travel memories, these innovations are significantly enhancing the sense of engagement among travellers.”

More than 600 tourism scholars, professionals and industry leaders from 66 countries gathered in Beijing for the event, which focused on digital and intelligent tourism, according to Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.

Macau among smart city leaders
At the conference, the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) released its annual ranking of 100 global travel destinations, based on six key dimensions: brand recognition, industry prosperity, city intelligence, safety, economic contribution and visitor satisfaction.

In the category of city intelligence — which assesses levels of urban digitalisation, information access, border entry and exit efficiency, and payment convenience — Macau ranked second worldwide, trailing only New York, according to media reports.

Four other cities in Greater China — Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong — also featured within the top 10 for smart city capabilities.

The WTCF attributed the strong performance of Chinese cities in this area to sustained government efforts in advancing smart city development and infrastructure.