PolyU’s Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism Backs Major Conference

YANGJIANG, China – The Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University supported the 2025 Digital Economy and Tourism Development Conference, held on 29 November 2025 at Guangdong Ocean University's Yangjiang campus. The event attracted over 150 participants from academic institutions and industry sectors across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau SARs.

The conference featured significant contributions from RCDTT members. Professor Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT and the Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, delivered a keynote address titled "AI and Tourism Research," showcasing the Centre's work on tourism demand forecasting and tourist satisfaction index using artificial intelligence.

A dedicated panel discussion on AI applications in hospitality was chaired by Professor Mimi Li, an Associate Director of RCDTT. The session included Professor Dan Wang, also an Associate Director of the Centre, who shared valuable insights on practical implementations of AI technologies in the hospitality sector.

"The strong participation in this conference demonstrates the growing importance of the digital economy in tourism development," said Professor Song. "As a supporting institution, the RCDTT remains committed to facilitating knowledge exchange between academia and industry that addresses contemporary challenges in our field."

The event served as an important platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, reinforcing RCDTT's role in fostering innovation and collaboration for tourism's future development.