Kathmandu— Shanghai officials on Wednesday unveiled 100 artificial intelligence-powered tourist service terminals throughout the city, designed to cater to a surge in summer tourism. The terminals utilize an AI agent named Hu Xiaoyou to provide services including real-time translation, navigation, attraction recommendations, and ticket booking for international visitors. This initiative aims to enhance the travel experience as Shanghai becomes an increasingly popular destination for inbound tourists.

AI Capabilities and Features

The newly deployed terminals are equipped with a comprehensive database containing over 84,000 entries detailing cultural activities, tourist attractions, and sports events within Shanghai. These machines also offer direct connections to 14,000 booking and shopping links, streamlining the process for travelers. Hu Xiaoyou is capable of generating personalized travel itineraries based on user preferences, further enhancing convenience.

Multilingual Support and Payment Options

To accommodate a diverse range of international visitors, the terminals support ten languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Thai, Russian, and Arabic. Furthermore, the machines accept payments in more than 120 currencies, simplifying transactions for tourists from around the globe. Volunteers will also be stationed at the terminals to provide additional assistance as needed.

Expansion Plans and Tourism Growth

Zhong Xiaomin, director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, stated that the functions of the terminals will be continually upgraded and their presence expanded over time, with the goal of creating a comprehensive citywide service network. This initiative comes as Shanghai experiences significant growth in inbound tourism, receiving 5.3 million international visitors during the first half of the year – a 27.82 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Shanghai aims to solidify its position as a leading destination for inbound travelers by leveraging technology and enhancing visitor services.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.