Students to explore AI careers in tourism at September 30 youth forum

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Several students from across the island will be participating in the Tourism 3.0 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Youth Forum on September 30, which aims to explore how AI is creating new career opportunities in tourism. The event forms part of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) activities, which will be observed from September 27 to October 3. The week will be recognised under the theme 'Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism'. Speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said the forum will highlight how digital technology is reshaping the tourism industry. "This is very important because the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), which we established nine years ago, is now having a full programme in our high schools. Some 33 schools now have a hotel management and customer service certificate programme," Bartlett said. "So, students are now graduating out of our high schools with certificates in hospitality and tourism that will enable entry level into the industry at a higher point," he continued. The forum will also engage students in discussions on the emerging opportunities for the next generation of tourism professionals. Director of Tourism Donovan White stressed that technology has already transformed how Jamaica promotes itself internationally and continues to create new opportunities for the destination. He noted that as AI becomes more widely adopted, it must be supported by appropriate policies, ethical safeguards, security measures, accessibility and human oversight to ensure the technology benefits society. The Tourism 3.0 AI Youth Forum will be followed by the JCTI Hospitality and Tourism AI Forum on October 1. This event will bring together industry stakeholders to examine how AI and digital technology are revolutionising the tourism sector. Tourism Awareness Week will also feature a church service, daily advertorials highlighting the Ministry of Tourism's initiatives, the Experience Jamaica discount programme at participating hotels and attractions, a Speaker Series at Tourism Action Club schools across the island, and a Tourism Stakeholder Engagement Activity. — JIS