AI set to transform tourism in Hadong

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has chosen six technology firms to experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) services at prominent tourist destinations in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province. These destinations include Ssanggye Temple and Hwagaejangteo Market. The initiative, announced recently, aims to tackle issues such as overcrowding, parking difficulties, and the lack of multilingual support for overseas tourists.

Ssanggye Temple, a revered Buddhist temple nestled within Jirisan National Park, welcomes over half a million visitors each year. Conversely, Hwagaejangteo Market garners approximately one million visitors annually. Both locations encounter significant challenges during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons when large crowds can pose safety risks and impede movement and parking.

To address these concerns, the tourism organization has pinpointed five areas for AI-driven interventions: tailored maps and routes, assessment of crowd density, multilingual information provision, monitoring of parking congestion, and personalized services. Six firms have been selected to spearhead this project: Freegrow, Deeping Source, XL8.ai, Intflow, CFlat AI, and Tail Studio.