Queensland tourism businesses are being given practical support to harness artificial intelligence and strengthen their cyber security, with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) launching a new series of six free, bite-sized online micro-credential courses that will be rolled out in the coming months.
AI in Action has been designed specifically for Queensland’s tourism industry to help operators build practical digital skills they can put to work in their businesses straight away and is funded under the Queensland Government’s Micro-credentialing Program.
The program features six micro-credential courses in total – five focused on AI and one focused on cyber security. Developed in partnership with Queensland-based experts Blue Seas AI and REDD, the courses take participants step-by-step from understanding the basics of AI through to using it to save time, improve customer communications, strengthen their online presence and better protect their business online.
The first two courses are being launched today as part of Queensland’s World Tourism Day celebrations, with the remaining four to be progressively released, giving participants time to build their skills and confidence as they move through the program.
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said the program was about making AI practical and accessible for tourism businesses of all sizes.
“AI is moving quickly and there is enormous potential for tourism businesses to use it to save time, work smarter and take some of the pressure out of everyday tasks,” Wheeler said.
“But for a busy tourism operator, knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
“AI in Action takes away some of that complexity. You don’t need to be a tech expert and you don’t need hours to spare. These are short, practical courses that operators can work through at their own pace and start putting into action straight away.
“Whether it’s drafting a customer email, responding to reviews, tackling everyday administration or making sure the information customers find about your business online is accurate, these are practical skills that can make a real difference.
“For small tourism businesses in particular, time is one of their most valuable resources. If we can help operators use technology confidently and responsibly to give some of that time back, that’s a win for their business.”
Blue Seas AI will deliver Modules 1 to 4, which focus on building practical AI capability. The AI in Action series begins with Understanding AI: Foundations for Tourism, which introduces the basics of AI, how to use an AI assistant safely and how to create reusable business profiles to generate more relevant results.
Participants can then progress through three further Blue Seas AI courses:
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Using AI to Save Time and Work Smarter – practical ways to use AI for everyday administration, using a Queensland tourism business example that participants can adapt to their own operations.
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Practical AI for Better Business Communication – using AI to develop customer emails, guest messages and review responses that retain the individual voice of the business.
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Using AI to Reach More Customers Online – understanding how AI sees and recommends businesses and improving online information so potential customers can find accurate and consistent details.
REDD will deliver Modules 5 and 6, comprising one further AI course and the program’s dedicated cyber security course. Together, the six courses provide tourism businesses with five practical AI micro-credentials and one cyber security micro-credential.
The courses are available online and can be completed at each participant’s own pace.
“Tourism has always been an industry built around people and great experiences. AI isn’t about replacing that human connection – it’s about giving our operators another tool to work more efficiently and spend more time on the things they do best,” Wheeler said.
Queensland tourism operators, employees and anyone wanting to build their knowledge can access AI in Action free through QTIC’s Pathways to Industry Excellence Learning Portal or by visiting qtic.com.au/ai-in-action-
The Micro-credentialing Program is funded and supported by the Queensland Government to bridge skills gaps and increase productivity.
