Benidorm to Implement Intelligent 'Chatbot' for Communication with Tourists and Residents

Benidorm is set to launch a project involving an AI-assisted 'chatbot' to enhance communication and access to resources and services for both residents and tourists. This initiative, part of the 'Benidorm Vision 360' Sustainable Tourism Plan, will be put out to tender by the Benidorm City Council. Mayor Toni Pérez has stated that the project has a base budget of 327,349.58 euros.

The purpose of developing this 'chatbot', as explained by the mayor of the Valencian Community's tourist capital, is to "provide information and assistance efficiently and accessibly through a conversational virtual assistant, implementing advanced artificial intelligence technologies."

This virtual assistant is expected to "offer detailed and up-to-date tourist information on attractions, events, and local services; facilitate interaction with municipal services, ensuring accessibility and multilingualism; integrate with the City Council's existing digital platforms to optimize user experience; and ensure informational consistency." Additionally, it must be "scalable, allowing for future evolution and integration with other municipal tools," as outlined in the tender documents.

Among the benefits of having this tool, the mayor highlighted "the improvement of information, user experience, and satisfaction," as a chatbot can "respond in real-time to inquiries about transport, accommodation, tourist attractions, cultural events, municipal procedures, or environmental information, providing citizens and tourists with a reliable and accessible tool from any internet-connected device."

Moreover, it allows for more accessible, inclusive information in multiple languages, which is "crucial for Benidorm due to the high influx and diversity of tourists it attracts." Finally, this tool will also advance transparency and citizen participation, while integrating with the DTI Platform and other municipal open data systems, "promoting the generation of metrics and indicators based on user interaction with this 'chatbot' and enabling the City Council to refine its tourism, cultural, and environmental strategies, aligning them with the real needs of the community and visitors."