Ulsan, South Korea – Ulsan Metropolitan City is betting on artificial intelligence to revitalize its tourism sector. The city recently unveiled a major upgrade to its smart tourism platform, 'Watseo Ulsan' ('Come Ulsan'), featuring AI-powered personalized travel planning and enhanced user engagement features.

The platform's most significant addition is generative AI, which will analyze user preferences and provide customized travel itineraries, including destinations, routes, transportation, and accommodation options. Users can also take a travel personality test to receive tailored recommendations.

'Watseo Ulsan' will also feature an interactive map using GIS technology, allowing users to visualize travel routes, distances, and estimated travel times for various modes of transportation. The platform will also include social features, enabling users to create and share travel logs in short video format and participate in real-time chat rooms.

In a bid to promote regional tourism, the platform will integrate information on attractions in neighboring cities Gyeongju and Pohang, offering users comprehensive travel planning options for the region. The platform will also highlight local tourism experiences, such as rural activities and accommodations.

Ulsan City hopes the upgrades will address past criticisms of low app downloads and user engagement. The city plans to launch a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the platform and its new features.

The upgraded 'Watseo Ulsan' platform is expected to be rolled out next month, marking a significant step in Ulsan's efforts to leverage technology to boost its tourism industry.