The two-day event, titled ‘AI for Next Gen – Transforming New Era Tourism with AI’, was held at the BTC Space (Blockchain Technology Center) in Chalong on Friday and Saturday (May 24-25).
The event attracted more than 200 attendees from the government, academic institutions, the private sector and the tourism industry, said an official report of the launch.
The ministry partnered with universities and private companies to host the seminar, aimed at modernising Thai tourism to integrate smart technology into one of the nation’s key economic drivers, said the report.
Hosted by Prince of Songkla University in collaboration with the AI Engineering Institute (AIEI), the conference was supported by the National Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Management Agency (NCMA).
The initiative is part of a larger framework promoting joint curriculum and research development within the AI University Network, involving nine higher education institutions and private sector partners, led by AIS, the report explained.
The event featured four key components:
- Future-Focused Keynote: A special lecture on ‘Future Ready: Global Trends, Technology and the Future of Thai Tourism’ was delivered by Asst Prof Justin Paulsen of CMKL University, a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL).
- AI Talk Forum – Blending Local Wisdom with Digital Power: Panel discussions explored real-world applications of AI in tourism, with insights from:
* Rangsiman Kingkaew, President of the Southern chapter of the Tourism Council of Thailand
* Nawachai Kietkokeua, Head of Corporate Marketing, AIS
* Pracha Atsawathira, Director of the Southern Region, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA)
* Wirachet Vaithayanuwatti, Cyber Security Manager, Bangkok Airways
* Kanokwan Boonchai, Chief Technology Officer, Thai Digital Platform Co Ltd
The session was moderated by Asst Prof Dr Wanrat Santiamorntat, Director of the Digital Research and Innovation Institute and Chair of the AISE curriculum.
- Technology Showcase: Exhibits from AIS, DEPA, BTC, PSU Esport Studio and others highlighted current AI advancements and their potential to transform tourism.
- AI Hackathon Challenge: More than 120 students from 25 teams took part in a no-code competition, ‘AI Workflow Automation for Tourism Business’, with training sessions led by Assoc Prof Dr Worodom Viraphan from Prince of Songkla University’s College of Computer Science.
The seminar represented a strategic step toward boosting Thailand’s grassroots economy by empowering the tourism industry with cutting-edge AI solutions, said the official report of the event.
The goal is to enhance the nation’s global competitiveness and prepare a future-ready workforce, the report added.