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TRAVEL & TOURISM JULY 17, 2026 | The Indian Eye 42

Google and Govt. Partner to Digitally Saudi Arabia

Launches
Transform India’s Tourism Sector ‘Package Visa’

for International
n a major step towards modernis-
ing India’s tourism industry, the Tourists
IMinistry of Tourism and Google audi Arabia has introduced a
India have signed a Memorandum of new Package Visa service that
Understanding (MoU) to enhance Sallows eligible international
the digital promotion of the country’s travellers to book flights, accommo-
tourism destinations. The collabo- dation, tourist visas and travel expe-
ration aims to leverage artificial in- riences through a single digital plat-
telligence (AI), data-driven insights, form, marking another step in the
digital marketing, and emerging tech- Kingdom’s efforts to position itself as
nologies to boost India’s tourism econ- a leading global tourism destination
omy and improve visitor engagement. under its Vision 2030 strategy. The
The agreement, signed in the
presence of Union Tourism and Cul- pilot programme is being rolled out
through authorised travel and tour-
ture Minister Gajendra Singh Shek- ism providers in selected international
hawat, establishes a framework for markets, including India.
cooperation in digital tourism pro- The integrated service enables vis-
motion, knowledge sharing, capacity itors to complete their travel planning
building, and the use of innovative in one transaction instead of booking
technologies. The initiative will help with the government’s vision of pro- and promotional strategies. flights, hotels and visas separately.
showcase India’s cultural heritage, moting tourism under the Incredible Officials emphasised that the Packages can include return airfare,
natural attractions, and travel experi- India campaign through technolo- partnership is non-commercial, accommodation at licensed hotels,
ences to domestic and international gy-driven solutions. non-binding, and carries no financial electronic visa processing, and option-
audiences through Google’s digital As part of the collaboration, implications for either side. By com- al cultural experiences, entertainment
platforms. Google India will provide insights bining government initiatives with events and guided tours, creating a
Speaking at the event, Shek- into global travel trends, traveller be- Google’s technological expertise,
hawat said that digital technologies haviour, and digital engagement pat- the collaboration seeks to strength- more seamless visitor experience.
Saudi officials said the initiative is
have the potential to create immer- terns. The company will also support en India’s global tourism presence, designed to reduce paperwork, simpli-
sive experiences that allow travellers training programmes for Ministry of- attract more visitors, and contribute fy travel arrangements and encourage
to discover and engage with India’s ficials in digital marketing, campaign to the long-term growth of the tour- tourists to spend more time exploring
rich cultural and historical legacy. optimisation, content creation, and ism economy through innovation and destinations across the Kingdom. The
He added that the partnership aligns AI-based tools to improve outreach digital transformation.
programme also strengthens collabo-
AP AIMS TO BECOME INDIA’S FIRST ration between government agencies
and travel operators while enhancing
AI-POWERED TOURISM STATE convenience for international visitors.
The Package Visa builds on a
series of tourism reforms introduced
ndhra Pradesh has unveiled an The government said the move nomic growth and generate employ- in recent years, including the tourist
ambitious plan to become In- is part of its broader strategy to posi- ment through tourism. Authorities e-Visa, visa-on-arrival facilities and
Adia’s first AI-powered tourism tion Andhra Pradesh as a technolo- believe AI-enabled services will help the Stopover Transit Visa.
state with the launch of NiVU AI, a gy-driven tourism destination capable create a more inclusive and accessible
digital platform designed to transform of attracting both domestic and inter- travel experience while improving ser- These measures have contrib-
visitor experiences through artificial national travellers. The AI-powered vice delivery across the sector.
intelligence, data-driven services and platform is expected to enhance oper- Tourism experts have welcomed uted to strong growth in Saudi
personalised travel assistance. ational efficiency, improve destination the initiative, noting that the adop- Arabia’s tourism sector, with
The initiative, launched by the management and strengthen the state’s tion of artificial intelligence could set
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Depart- digital infrastructure for tourism. a benchmark for other states seeking the country welcoming more
ment, seeks to integrate AI across the According to officials, NiVU AI to modernise tourism services. If im- than 29 million inbound visi-
state’s tourism ecosystem to provide will offer end-to-end travel assistance plemented successfully, the project
travellers with customised itineraries, by providing personalised recommen- is expected to strengthen Andhra tors in 2025.
multilingual support, real-time rec- dations based on user preferences, Pradesh’s competitiveness in India’s
ommendations and seamless access to helping tourists discover lesser-known tourism landscape and establish a Initially, the pilot is available
destinations, accommodation, trans- attractions alongside popular destina- model for digital transformation in in selected markets such as India,
port and local experiences. tions. The platform is also expected to the sector. Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan,
Officials said the platform will support local businesses by increasing The government said additional Bangladesh and Mexico, with a wider
leverage advanced analytics to im- their digital visibility and connecting AI-enabled features and partnerships global rollout expected in the coming
prove tourist engagement while en- them with a wider visitor base. will be introduced in phases as part months. Travel packages currently
abling authorities to make informed The initiative aligns with Andhra of its long-term roadmap to build a begin at around SAR 4,000, covering
policy decisions based on visitor Pradesh’s vision of leveraging emerg- smart, sustainable and globally com- flights, accommodation, visa process-
trends. ing technologies to accelerate eco- petitive tourism ecosystem. ing and curated tourism experiences.

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