PORTO/HANNOVER (dpa-AFX) – Artificial intelligence (AI) should make it easier for tourists to plan their trips and tourism group Tui wants to accelerate this development. To this end, the first “Digital Hub” opened on Monday in Porto, Portugal, Tui announced. Initially, 150 technology experts will work at the site to further develop Tui applications and stimulate the integration of AI technology.

“Developing new digital products and services for our customers, while ensuring high quality standards, is key to our transformation,” Group CEO Sebastian Ebel said at the opening of the new location, the statement said. “Portugal proves that Portugal is not just a tourist destination, but also a digital innovation hub where we are helping to shape the future of tourism.”

The travel group previously worked with IT services provider Cocus in the country. Together they set up a software development center in Porto starting in 2017. Now Tui is taking over the existing facility and turning it into its first digital hub. By the end of the year, the workforce is expected to increase from the current 150 to 200 employees. Two more hubs will follow, one in Poland and another in India.

“This will fundamentally change the way people plan and book their travel in the future,” Tui IT boss Pieter Jordaan recently explained on the occasion of the first trials with text robot ChatGPT. Sample users in the UK received personalized travel suggestions and answers to questions about holiday destinations via AI. Germany will follow once the testing phase is complete, Jordaan said. “If all testing is successful and we are satisfied with its safety, we want to launch the product by the end of this year.”/fjo/DP/men