Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni emphasized the decisive role of Artificial Intelligence for the present and future of tourism at the seminar on Artificial Intelligence titled “The Symbiosis Effect: AI & I”, organized by BCA College.
In her remarks, the Minister highlighted that the “symbiosis” of humans and technology is a critical factor for a sector that relies on human interaction.
She pointed out that Artificial Intelligence serves as a valuable tool for tourism, offering efficiency, personalization, and rapid access to information, allowing travelers to fully immerse themselves in the experience. She also added that AI can contribute to a better understanding of travelers’ needs and preferences, to trend forecasting, and to the sustainable management of tourism flows.
Minister Kefalogianni then presented the Ministry of Tourism’s initiatives for the use of Artificial Intelligence, particularly in projects implemented with resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
According to her, a network for digital promotion and marketing of the elements that compose the travel experience in Greece is being developed, which will enhance the competitiveness of Greek tourism.
Specifically, she referred to the complete redesign of the country’s official travel portal, Visitgreece.gr – a project scheduled for completion in 2026. The new system will integrate second-generation Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI technology, offering personalized recommendations, interactive maps, an automated information desk, translation services, destination alerts, and tools for user participation in enriching content.
Additionally, she presented the development of digital platforms for promoting special forms of tourism, such as agritourism, gastronomic, mountain, maritime, diving, and wellness tourism, which will also leverage Artificial Intelligence technology.
She also mentioned mAiGreece, the digital travel assistant currently in operation, which provides fast access to information in 31 languages, experience recommendations based on geolocation, and the ability to directly contact 112 in emergencies.
However, as the Minister emphasized, despite the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, tourism will remain deeply human-centered. Addressing the students of BCA College, she stressed that technology does not replace humans but adds greater value to their role in shaping the travel experience, making human skills and emotional intelligence more valuable than ever.
Concluding, she stated that the goal is for Greece to lead in the era of Artificial Intelligence. “Our vision is a tourism sector that keeps pace with developments, competitive at a global level. Technology provides us with the tools. Hospitality, culture, and the people of tourism are the ones who create lasting memories, deliver real value, and make every journey in Greece unique,” said the Minister.
