Meet the UAE's First Gaming Authority
Skift Take
Key Points
- Major travel executives, including those from Airbnb and Uber, discuss the impact of AI on their companies.
- The UAE has established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority to regulate its emerging gambling industry, potentially earning $6.6 billion yearly.
- Tour operators like Contiki are increasing their focus on African adventures to attract young travelers, with bookings significantly up from 2019 levels.
Summary
Major travel executives, such as those from Airbnb and Uber, are discussing the impact of AI on their companies, highlighting its potential to change travel search and booking. The UAE has established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority to regulate its emerging gambling industry, which could generate $6.6 billion in annual revenue. Additionally, tour operators, including Contiki, are increasing their focus on African adventures to attract young travelers, with a notable rise in bookings since 2019.
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Episode Notes
The rise of artificial intelligence has been a major topic of discussion in the travel industry over the past year. So as the theme of this month’s Skift Global Forum is Connection in the Age of AI, what do major travel executives think about booming technology? Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes provides some of their opinions about it.
Dawes cites Airbnb’s Brian Chesky and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi as two CEOs vocal about the impact of AI on their companies. Chesky said AI would be the driving force between a vastly different Airbnb. Meanwhile, Khosrowshahi said AI could improve user personalization by tracking preferences, such as preferred types of cars.
Dawes adds that executives around travel have spoken about how advancements in AI could change travel search and booking. Priceline and Booking.com have already released Google-powered tools on their respective apps.
Next, the United Arab Emirates has established a gaming authority to regulate its nascent gambling industry, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.
Corder notes the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority will set guidelines for future casinos as well as a potential “Arabian Strip” gambling zone. The country’s media has reported the agency would look to help unlock gaming’s economic potential. The United Arab Emirates could earn roughly $6.6 billion in revenue yearly from gaming, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
Finally, tour operators are increasingly turning to African adventures to attract young travelers, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Selene Brophy.
Brophy cites Contiki as one company that has significantly boosted its Africa offerings. Contiki, which organizes trips geared largely towards 18-35 year olds, has seen bookings for its Africa tours jump 57% from 2019 levels. Kyle Junkuhn, Contiki’s Operations Lead for Africa, said its itinerary design has been a major factor in its growth. Its guests can bungee jump and zip wire, among other activities, at Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls.
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