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In 2024, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Baidu officially signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation at the China International Travel & Tourism Fair (ITB China). The partnership signifies that the two parties will work together to enhance the digital presence of Saudi tourism in the Chinese market by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Model technologies to provide visitors with a smoother and more personalized experience and to showcase Saudi Arabia's stunning landscapes.

The signing ceremony was held at ITB China, where Mohammed Alrowaithy, Chief Intelligent Tourism Officer of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Fu Peng, General Manager of Baidu's Intelligent Cloud Government Business Department, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on behalf of the two parties. Alhassan Aldabbagh, President of Asia-Pacific Markets, Saudi Tourism Authority, Liu Rong, Head of Strategic Planning and Management Department, Baidu Intelligent Cloud, and Cong Wei, CEO of CloudTech, were on hand to witness this important moment.

Alhassan Aldabbagh, President of Asia-Pacific Markets, Saudi Tourism Authority, said at the signing ceremony, “The partnership with Baidu is not only an important initiative to strengthen cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the field of tourism, but also represents a key step forward in improving accessibility and promoting digital innovation. This strategic partnership marks significant progress in our joint development and innovation, and we look forward to providing tourists with an even better travel experience through this collaboration, as well as further cementing the cooperative relationship between our two countries.”

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Liu Rong, Head of Strategic Planning and Management Department of Baidu Intelligent Cloud, noted, “Through the strategic cooperation with the Saudi National Tourism Administration, Baidu Intelligent Cloud will be deeply involved in the digitalization of the Saudi Tourism Administration. We will leverage our technological strengths to provide a better travel experience for visitors from the Asia-Pacific region and help them explore Saudi Arabia more easily. Our goal is to attract more tourists to understand and experience the unique charm of Saudi Arabia through innovative digital services.”

Fu Peng, General Manager of Baidu's Intelligent Cloud Government Business Department, said, “Baidu will provide customized solutions based on the needs of the Saudi Tourism Authority. These solutions include AI digital people, featured map navigation, and language translation services to meet the various needs of tourists during their travels. We will provide personalized digital support for Saudi tourism through intelligent services to help enhance the overall experience of tourists.”

According to the agreement, the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation based on Baidu Intelligent Cloud's digital cultural and tourism industry solutions. The areas of cooperation include featured maps, AI digital people, and digital marketing. The cooperation in these areas aims to promote technological innovation in the cultural and tourism industry, and to practically apply the innovations to the industry, so as to improve the quality and efficiency of tourism services.

The signing of this MOU not only marks a new stage of cooperation between Baidu Intelligent Cloud and IFTB, but also reflects the two parties' shared vision in promoting digital transformation. The technical support of Baidu SmartCloud will help the Saudi Tourism Authority to improve in the field of digitalization and provide tourists with more convenient and personalized services. At the same time, this cooperation will also build a more solid bridge for cultural exchange and tourism cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia.