Andhra Pradesh government has signed a three-year agreement with Explurger (Photo: AP Tourism)
The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a three-year agreement with Explurger, a social media app for explorers and travellers to deploy its multilingual conversational platform, NiVU AI, at more than 100 tourist destinations, making the state the first in India to introduce AI-powered tourist guides across its attractions.
According to a press statement, under the agreement, NiVU AI will be deployed at temples, beaches, forts, heritage monuments and natural attractions. Visitors will be able to access the AI guide by scanning QR codes installed at tourist sites without downloading an application.
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The statement adds that the platform will provide information on the history, culture, religious significance and key highlights of destinations through voice or text in more than 130 Indian and international languages. It will also recommend nearby attractions based on visitors’ interests.
The rollout follows a pilot project at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple and Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Mangalagiri. According to officials, the pilot received positive feedback from pilgrims and temple authorities.
The first phase will cover 30 tourist sites during the first year, with the network expanding to more than 100 destinations by the end of the three-year agreement, says the statement.
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The initiative forms part of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024-29 and the Swarna Andhra Vision-2047.
In addition to assisting visitors, the AI platform will generate real-time data on language preferences, visitor queries and travel patterns. The Tourism Department plans to use these insights to improve destination planning, policy formulation and tourism services across the state.
