South African Tourism has teamed up with Matador Network’s GuideGeek platform to launch the country’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered travel planner.
In honour of its local roots, they’ve called the recently launched planner “Siyanda.” It derives from the Xhosa word for “We are growing/increasing.”
Here’s how Siyanda works:
SIYANDA: HOW AN AI TRAVEL PLANNER EASES TRAVELLING
How Siyanda works is that international visitors – particularly those hailing from Canada and the United States of America – can use it as a personal guide for all things Mzansi.
Drawing on data from South African Tourism, as well as more than 1 000 GuideGeek integrations, Siyanda can answer visitors’ queries about the country, what makes it tick and how to plan a perfect trip here.
Indeed, when viewing the AI travel planner here, it encourages users to ask questions about:
- Learning more about the country’s wildlife, stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, lifestyle and adventure tourism opportunities.
- Understanding how to get there and the best time to visit.
- Planning your dream vacation at a range of price points suitable for any budget.
For example, when asked, “Where can I see penguins?”, Siyanda pinpointed Boulders Beach in Simonstown, providing a summary of the famed beach and its feathered inhabitants. It also provided a map, photos, contact details of SANParks and reviews.
KEEPING SA ‘TOP OF MIND’ FOR OVERSEAS TRAVELLERS
Darryl Erasmus, the COO of South African Tourism, lauded the benefits of using Siyanda.
“Through chatting with Siyanda, potential U.S. and Canadian visitors, and the travel advisors assisting them, can build a dream itinerary that fits their budget and discover just how far their dollar can stretch,” said Erasmus, per Travel Weekly.
Additionally, he also hailed the AI travel planner as a useful tool in boosting tourism.
“Siyanda enables us to grow our connection by reaching travellers who are now using AI alongside traditional channels to research and book trips,” he said. “We are incredibly proud of our New York-based team’s innovation and dedication to keeping South Africa top of mind for North American travellers seeking immersive, authentic experiences.”
For tourists, Siyanda is ideal for easing the travel-planning process. Though, like all AI tools, not all the information it offers is definitive.
It’s up to users to still carry out additional research and seek assistance from travel advisers. That way, one can be assured that one’s trip to South Africa will be smooth-sailing and magical in equal measure.
