Technology-driven projects further bolster Sharjahs tourism industry
One of four projects dubbed as AI Tour Guide Chatbot

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) unveiled four innovative projects intended to further lift the aggressiveness of Sharjahs tourism sector at the premier GITEX Technology Week 2019 at Dubai World Trade Centre. SCTDA joined the Sharjah Pavilion along with other key local government and private sector entities taking part at the five-day GITEX.

SCTDA presented various technology-driven projects to the a huge number of intrigued guests from over the world who attended the greatest tech show in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. The Authoritys high-level team is on hand during the occasion to grandstand the projects advanced highlights as well as address all visitor queries.

The AI Tour Guide Chatbot, a 24/7 voice-and text-based chatbot, developed to provide the latest information about Sharjah to tourists. The intuitive tour guide chatbot, which is accessible via WhatsApp, a mobile app, SCTDAs website, and Facebook messenger, shares accurate details about the emirates top tourist destinations, must-do activities, world-class facilities, driving cafs, and substantially more.

The project is the aftereffect of SCTDAs drive to fuse the most recent technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), into its tourism programs to better highlight Sharjahs renowned beauty and hospitality while enhancing visitor experience. The AI Tour Guide Chatbot underpins five languages, including Arabic, English, German, Chinese, and Russian, and can recognize different Arabic articulations.

Additionally launching is the Smart Hotel Licensing and Classification system. This project completely automates the business procedures of the Tourism Standard Department. It covers different service modules such as the Hotel Establishment Registration and Online Application of all licensing-related services; inspection; violation management; hotel establishment classification management for classification and grading system; and assessment management permitting SCTDA to direct all appraisal data.

The system also has a Partner Interface, which gives an interface to the hotel establishment to review survey data to their establishments. It additionally empowers them to start and track their applications with SCTDA, along these lines giving a one-stop shop for all possible functions within the boundary of the system. It automates every one of the transactions of the predetermined services and supports a wide range of workflows. External customers can register, customize an account and start using the services upon approval of their applications.

The third project is known as the Smart Vehicle Permit System, which means to diminish time spent in overseeing vehicle permit applications as well as other transactions for desert tour or safari vehicles. The multi-purpose online system aides in the faster issuance of permits and vehicle stickers. It issues electronic permits and vehicle stickers with countermeasures to thwart duplication and forgeries. The system is additionally outfitted with smart workflows that recognize the procedure and automatically allot the application to the responsible individual in the chain for action. It also automates fines and fees computation along with the integration of payment using credit cards and Tahseel Management dashboard, with access to various reports and analytics.

Last yet not the least is the Hotel Statistics System- Business Intelligence (HSS BI) solution. This easy to understand system groups on-the-spot guest information and measurements on numerous variables such as nationality, length of stay, and revenue, occupancy rates among others. It additionally empowers the user to connect smartly utilizing the intuitive tools in the dashboard to make and customize reports, aiding decision makers in making necessary judgments.

H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, stated: These most recent projects reflect our duty to presenting technology-driven thoughts that will promote Sharjah as a world-class tourist destination with a wide scope of recreation, cultural, and entertainment activities. We are sure that these initiatives will help accelerate the fulfillment of the main goal of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which is to attract 10 million tourists to our shores. The projects launched today at GITEX are also aligned with our unfaltering support to the UAEs endeavors to promote innovation and creativity on all fronts.

Over the years, we have seen how technology has changed the accommodation and tourism landscape. It has helped diminished costs, upgrade operational productivity, and improve services and customer experience. We need to accentuate this role even further. Continuous innovation is one of the Authority's strategies and we target that by end of 2019, we can give innovative digital channels and tools that serve all individuals and institutions. Our participation at GITEX aims to highlight the benefits of these projects and their positive impact on Sharjahs tourism sector. We additionally need to underline the significance of keeping pace with the worldwide changes occurring place within the sector where there is an ongoing shift towards a future that works on smart platforms and services that can be accomplished in no time and with the push of a button, the Chairman included.