RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA -- Launched 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.”