MUSCAT: In part two, we explore how AI is transforming Oman’s tourism landscape and what this means for the workforce. His Excellency Azzan Al Busaidi shares insights on balancing innovation with employment opportunities and how smaller businesses can leverage these advancements.
 
Q: Beyond economic challenges, technology is transforming tourism everywhere. How is AI changing Oman’s tourism sector?

AI is transforming our tourism sector in exciting ways. To put this in perspective, the World Travel & Tourism Council expects the global tourism industry to contribute approximately US$11.7 trillion to the global economy in 2025 – around 10.3% of global GDP. AI is becoming a genuine game-changer within this massive market.
 
We’re seeing practical applications emerge everywhere. Tourists now interact with chatbots that help them book trips and receive personalized recommendations for accommodations and flights. Internationally, some hotels have introduced robot concierges to streamline the check-in process. It’s quite remarkable.
 
This isn’t just about convenience there’s a sustainability dimension as well. Take Iberostar, which manages about 100 properties across 16 countries. They’re using AI to address food waste in their hotels and resorts, reducing costs by an estimated 27% while diverting tons of food from landfills.
 
AI is helping Oman progress toward our Vision 2040 tourism goals- generating US$22.5 billion annually, increasing GDP contribution to 6%, creating over 500,000 jobs and developing 80,000 hospitality keys. This technology is becoming essential to building the tourism future we envision for our country.
 
Q: Some might worry about AI eliminating tourism jobs. What’s your perspective on this?

I understand that concern – it’s something I often hear, especially given our focus on creating quality employment for Oman’s talented youth.
 
I won’t sugarcoat it – some jobs will evolve as automation advances. However, historical precedent shows that major technological shifts typically create more opportunities than they eliminate. The World Economic Forum offers interesting statistics on this – they project AI might replace around 85 million jobs globally by 2025 but simultaneously create 97 million new roles in fields like data analysis, machine learning and digital marketing.
 
For Oman, the priority is ensuring our youth are prepared for these emerging tourism careers. We’re talking about positions in coding, customer relationship management systems and digital marketing campaigns – areas that simply didn’t exist a generation ago.
 
This isn’t about robots taking over – it’s about equipping our people with new skills so they can thrive in this evolving landscape. The goal isn’t to replace our workforce but empower them to accomplish even more exciting things.
 
Q: How can smaller local tourism businesses benefit from these technological advancements?

I’m particularly excited about what this means for Oman’s SMEs which make up about 80% of our tourism sector. They actually possess some distinct advantages in this space.
 
While larger companies may have greater financial resources, smaller operators can be nimble. They can adopt new AI tools quickly and combine them with the personal touch that tourists love about Oman. It’s precisely this blend of technological efficiency with authentic human connection that creates memorable experiences.
 
We’re supporting small firms through initiatives like our partnership with Expedia through Visit Oman. This gives even micro-businesses access to over 90 million active users across more than 70 countries – reach they could never achieve independently.
 
There’s an environmental dimension as well. AI tools are helping SMEs operate more sustainably by optimizing resources, predicting demand to reduce waste and creating innovative features that help tourists make eco-friendly choices during their visits. It’s a win-win that supports both local entrepreneurs and our 2050 Net-Zero goal – all while enhancing the visitor experience.
 
That’s what makes Oman special. We’re not losing our identity –we’re enhancing what makes us unique through intelligent application of technology.

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