(Posted 27th January 2026)
Dr. Alain St.Ange Declares AI the ‘Heartbeat of Emotion’; in Tourism’s New Era as
he delivers keynote address at Parliament House event in London
At the International AI Excellence & Diplomacy Summit held earlier today in
the House of Lords, esteemed tourism leader Dr. Alain St.Ange delivered a compelling
keynote on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence in the travel industry.
Dr. St.Ange, the former Seychelles Minister and head of the ‘Saint Ange Consultancy‘
urged industry professionals to embrace AI as a fundamental tool for progress and
connection.
Dr. St.Ange highlighted that AI is no longer a distant concept but an integral part of the
industry’s infrastructure, acting as a ‘global megaphone‘ that amplifies customer
experiences. He stressed the importance of proactively managing one’s digital
reputation, as AI makes the unfiltered opinions of past customers directly accessible
to future ones.
A central theme of the address was the rise of ‘Emotional Tourism‘ where the
feelings shared by previous guests increasingly dictate future bookings. ‘AI is also
becoming the heartbeat of emotion in travel‘ Dr. St.Ange stated, explaining that
businesses must craft and share positive messages to ensure AI echoes their
strengths and builds a favourable online consensus.
Looking forward, Dr. St.Ange painted a vivid picture of the future, including AI-powered
personal concierges, robotic hotel staff, and interactive 3D destination tours. While
acknowledging challenges like data privacy and building trust in AI, he framed them
as ‘signposts guiding us toward a more responsible and innovative future‘. He
shared projections that the AI market in tourism will reach nearly $14 billion by 2030,
underscoring the urgency to adapt.
Dr. St.Ange concluded with a powerful call to action, asking not if the industry will adapt,
but how it will lead the change. His message was clear: the future of travel lies in a
thoughtful partnership between technology and humanity to create richer, more
meaningful experiences for everyone.
About Saint Ange Consultancy:
Led by Dr. Alain St.Ange, a globally recognised tourism figure with extensive leadership
experience, Saint Ange Consultancy provides expert advice and strategic insights to
tourism boards and private sector stakeholders worldwide. St.Ange’s distinguished
career includes serving as the Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports,
and Marine and on the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization.
