UNDP’s AI Platform to Boost Tourism Decision-Making in Zanzibar
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has developed an AI-powered platform, Jozani AI, to help the Tanzanian government and local businesses on the archipelago of Zanzibar respond more effectively to tourism trends. Named after a national forest on the island, the platform aggregates online reviews and complaints, converting them into heat maps and real-time trend data - replacing a reliance on annual surveys that left little room for timely intervention. The tool has now been operational for over a year.
Jozani AI gives government officials visibility into emerging issues such as security, health, and service quality as they arise, while also benchmarking areas and operators against one another to guide resource allocation. Hotels, transport operators, and restaurants have access to the data, enabling businesses to identify service gaps based on direct tourist feedback. The initiative forms part of a broader UNDP effort to apply artificial intelligence to real-world development challenges, even as the UN continues work on establishing a global governance framework for the technology.
Source: United Nations
