THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND AI IN INCLUSIVE TOURISM

Inclusive tourism emphasizes equal opportunities for all individuals—regardless of age, disability, gender, or socio-economic background—to access and enjoy travel experiences. The rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) has created new opportunities for reducing barriers in tourism by offering tools such as mobile apps, virtual reality (VR), accessibility mapping, and AI-powered personalization. This paper explores how technology and AI enable inclusive tourism by reviewing academic literature, analyzing global case studies, and identifying challenges and future directions. While technology has improved accessibility, affordability and ethical concerns remain critical obstacles. The paper concludes that technology and AI, if responsibly applied, are essential for building a tourism sector that is inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).