Skift Take
Today’s podcast looks at Venice’s new velour rope, an AI shutdown, and China and Thailand’s new tourism agreement.
Rashaad Jorden
Excellent early morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, January 3. Here’s what you need to know about business of travel today.
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Episode Notes
Authorities in Venice have recently authorized a step to cap trip group sizes to help the city better manage tourist arrivals, composes International Tourism Press reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Tour groups of more than 25 individuals will be banned from the town hall and three of its islands starting June 1. A local tourist official said that limiting large group trips would help maintain Venice’s infrastructure and minimize overcrowding. Habtemariam notes the city is likewise banning portable speakers used by tour guides.
Travel financier Greg O’Hara said at last year’s Skift Global Forum that Italians have actually been prevented from going to Venice in part since of the substantial crowds it brings in.
Next, Tripnotes got a great deal of buzz in 2023 as one of the very first ChatGPT-powered AI trip planners. However by December, it offered itself and shut down the website, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.
Dawes keeps in mind that Tripnotes was one of the very first travel business to devote to building a generative AI-powered journey planner. Tripnotes co-founder Matthew Rosenberg said he was aiming to use tailored recommendations and in-app travel booking to transform city guides. Nevertheless, Dawes reports that while Tripnotes had buzz, it needed money– which wasn’t easy to raise in 2023, specifically after Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in March. Restaurant appointment start-up Dorsia eventually purchased the business.
Next, China and Thailand have actually reached a reciprocal arrangement that will completely waive visa requirements for residents of the 2 nations beginning in March, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated on Tuesday that the contract would help enhance the relationship in between Thailand and China. Thailand presently allows Chinese visitors to remain in the nation visa free for one month. However, Beijing had not approved Thai travelers a comparable treatment previously.
China was Thailand’s second-largest tourist market in 2023, with 3.5 million Chinese tourists visiting the kingdom.