Discussion on the Establishment of an AI Tourism Laboratory at Al-Farabi KazNU
On January 28, a working meeting was held at the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with representatives of Zolo Group LLP, a company engaged in professional activities in the field of tourism and tourism destination design.
The main purpose of the visit was to discuss prospects for joint activities aimed at establishing an AI Tourism Laboratory (AI Tourism Lab) at the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism. The project is focused on introducing digital and intelligent solutions into the analysis, planning, and management of tourism destination development, as well as on creating applied research and educational products for the tourism industry.
The meeting was organized by the Center for technology commercialization and creative industry, emphasizing the applied nature of the initiative and its alignment with the university’s strategy of transferring scientific developments to the real sector of the economy. During the discussion, possible formats of cooperation were considered, including the development of digital models of tourism territories and the use of AI tools for forecasting tourist flows, risk analysis, and enhancing the sustainability of tourism destinations.
The relevance of establishing an AI Tourism Laboratory is driven by current trends in the development of the global tourism industry, where digitalization, big data, and artificial intelligence have become key factors of competitiveness. In the context of tourism market transformation, such solutions contribute to improving management efficiency, the quality of tourism products, and the resilience of the industry to external challenges.
The project is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth (promotion of sustainable tourism and job creation); SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (implementation of innovative digital technologies); SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities (smart planning and development of tourism destinations); SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals (collaboration between the university and the business sector).
Thus, the meeting became an important step toward strengthening cooperation between the university and representatives of the tourism business, as well as toward building an innovative ecosystem aimed at the sustainable development of tourism and the commercialization of scientific research in Kazakhstan.
