RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Thursday, 13. November 2025
(BUSINESS
WIRE) -- Launched today at the TOURISE Summit, the TOURISE Destination
Initiative (TDI) brings together global leaders from government,
international organizations, academia, and the private sector, to
transform destinations into living laboratories for tourism innovation.
Guided by its Declaration of Principles, TDI champions safety,
environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community-centered
development through responsible technology and multi-sector
collaboration.
TDI is co-chaired by Prince Turki bin Talal bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Aseer Province, and Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor
of Venice, and founding members include:
Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, Republic of South Africa
Mateo Julián Estrella Durán, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Ecuador
Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Maldives
Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami, United States
Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN Tourism
Arnaud Ngatcha, Deputy Mayor of Paris
Iván Azurdia, Director of Tourism Development, Guatemala Institute of Tourism
Jordan Tan, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Data Officer, Singapore Tourism Board
Jon Berroya, Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google
Mauricio Rodas, Visiting Scholar, University of Pennsylavnia
Matthijs Bouw, Founder, One Architecture and Urbanism
TDI’s
first project, “AI for Tourism Safety,” aims to promote the responsible
deployment of AI in TDI member destinations. The project builds on
insights from Surveillance or Safety? How Cities are Rewriting Tourism, a
white paper by the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Institute for
Urban Research (Penn IUR). Authored by Mauricio Rodas—Visiting Scholar
at Penn IUR and former Mayor of Quito—the paper explores the ethical and
operational challenges of AI in urban tourism and was launched
alongside TDI.
“As destinations, we carry the responsibility of
protecting what makes us unique, our people, our heritage, and our
future,” said His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud, Governor of Aseer Province and Co-Chair of the TOURISE
Destination Initiative. “Through TDI, we are creating a shared space for
cities to lead; by embracing innovation rooted in ethics and empathy,
we ensure that tourism becomes a force for safety, dignity, and
sustainable development.”
“Urban destinations are the heartbeat
of the global tourism industry, and it is imperative that no city,
anywhere in the world, ever feels unsafe for its visitors or residents,”
said His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman
of TOURISE. “With the TOURISE Destination Initiative, we are calling on
cities to lead with integrity. Safety innovations must be anchored in
responsible governance. By applying technology with foresight, we
protect travelers and reinforce the trust that defines the future of
tourism.”
As cities face rising crime, digital threats, and
traveler anxiety, TDI will guide the ethical adoption of AI to enhance
safety while establishing new benchmarks for transparency and trust.
Mauricio
Rodas added, “Although nine out of ten mayors express interest in
integrating artificial intelligence into city management, only 2 percent
of cities are actively deploying it for safety, mainly due to a lack of
policy and regulatory frameworks. TDI’s AI for Tourism Safety project
is designed to close that gap by offering practical guidance for cities
to protect everyone who calls a destination home, whether permanently or
temporarily.”
About TOURISE
TOURISE is the world’s premier platform shaping a new horizon for global tourism.
Under
the umbrella of the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, powered by the Saudi
Tourism Authority, the inaugural TOURISE Summit will take place November
11–13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The event will convene
visionaries from government, business, investment, tourism, and
technology to drive transformative deals and deliver high-impact
initiatives that redefine the future of the global tourism industry.
TOURISE
ensures worldwide participation while offering access to
decision-makers shaping the industry’s evolution. Following the Summit,
TOURISE will continue as a year-round platform where bold ideas turn
into real-world solutions.
This is where the next 50 years of tourism are shaped. Together, we are unstoppable.
For more information visit www.tourise.com
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Contacts
For media inquiries, please contact Media@TOURISE.com
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