The Tourist Who Never Googled You (And Why Your Tourism Business Should Worry)

So a few weeks ago, I was testing something.

Instead of typing into Google things to do in Malaysia, I opened an AI assistance, and I asked, "What are the most authentic experiences I can do in Malaysia?" Boom.

Within seconds, the AI started recommending experiences, local experiences.

Not websites, not advertisement, not even 10 blue links on the first page.

The actual recommendation, guys.

Actual recommendations.

So as if I was talking to a travel agent or travel consultants.

And that was the moment I realized something big.

The game has changed.

You see, for the last 20 years, tourism business travel agents understood the rules.

The tourist search Google, Google shows websites, all the websites, the tourist click, the tourist end up on OTA.

Maybe TripAdvisor, maybe Viator, maybe Klook, or maybe booking.com. And hopefully somebody gets a booking.

Simple.

Everybody understood the game.

But now something interesting is happening.

So the tourist is skipping steps.

Instead of searching, they are asking, and AI is answering.

So think about it.

Think about it.

When was the last time you argued with Google? Never.

[laughs] Google give you 10 links, you decide.

But AI, AI behave differently.

Naughty, naughty, naughty.

AI say, "I've looked at everything.

Here are my recommendations." And suddenly AI is acting like a travel advisor.