Peshawar: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop smart tourism and digital solutions for the province.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Secretary Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Saadat Hassan, UET Peshawar Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Sadiq Khattak, senior officials and faculty members.
Under the agreement, UET Peshawar will provide engineering and technological expertise for the development of the Smart Tourism and Culture Management System (STCMS), covering Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information System (GIS), mobile and web applications, data analytics, digital dashboards, tourism monitoring and cybersecurity.
Saadat Hassan said around 12.5 million tourists visited various destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last year, including 1.2 million visitors to Galiyat during the last Eid.
He said improved infrastructure and facilities had contributed to increased tourist mobility, adding that promotion of tourism through innovation and technology was a priority of the provincial government.
Prof Dr Sadiq Khattak said UET Peshawar was working to address practical challenges in various sectors through innovation, technology and engineering expertise.
He said the partnership would help translate academic knowledge and engineering skills into practical solutions for real-world challenges.
KP-CTA Director Administration/Acting Director General Sheharyar Mehmood said the project was aligned with the World Tourism Day focus on Artificial Intelligence and smart tourism.
He said the authority was adopting modern technology to attract international tourists and improve the tourism experience in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Rs125 million pilot project will initially be implemented in Galiyat and subsequently replicated in other major tourist destinations, he added.
The project will provide real-time technology-based solutions for tourist safety and emergency response, including applications for Tourism Police, monitoring of tourist and historical sites, and improved information flow to the administration through integrated dashboards.