BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday said it will explore mechanisms for establishing ownership, pricing, and trading of digital cultural assets, as part of its efforts to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the culture and tourism sectors.
Zhou Hanping, a ministry official, told a press conference in Beijing that the ministry plans to promote the integration of AI into cultural creation, public services, the transmission of intangible cultural heritage, tourism services and market governance.
Nine Chinese authorities, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, on Monday jointly issued a set of guidelines on boosting commerce through science and technology.
According to the guidelines, China will promote the combined use of AI, extended reality and other technologies to develop distinctive cultural and tourism products and smart services, and expand the supply of cultural and tourism services for consumers.
Zhou said the ministry has launched 14 pilot projects for AI applications in culture and tourism. A list of these projects, released by the ministry last week, has shown that the pilot program will cover fields such as museums, theaters, snow tourism, and inbound tourism.
The guidelines also encourage localities to develop consumption scenarios that blend digital and physical experiences in key locations such as pedestrian streets, commercial districts and tourist attractions.
"Emerging forms of culture and tourism have become important drivers of domestic demand, job creation, market vitality and consumer confidence," Zhou said, referring to new cultural and tourism products such as immersive cultural experiences, digital performances, and smart tourism services.
Zhou said the ministry will further encourage businesses nationwide to develop distinctive cultural and tourism products based on local resources, and promote joint training efforts among universities, research institutions and cultural and tourism enterprises to foster talent. ■
