AI for tourism and hospitality education in China: policies, challenges and prospect

The rapid development of AI, particularly generative AI, has made educational digital transformation a strategic priority globally. China has emerged as a leading player in exploring AI-driven innovative models in higher education through comprehensive policy initiatives, industry integration, and university innovation. This study discusses China’s digital transformation in tourism and hospitality education through systematic analysis of policy documents and educational practices from 2012 to present. Using a three-stage framework, the study finds that China’s AI-enabled education has evolved through three distinct phases: exploration (2012–2018), expansion (2019–2022), and deep integration (2023-present). The technological characteristics, policy orientations, and educational development status of each stage are analyzed. This study also identifies five critical challenges: concepts preceding practice, insufficient digital infrastructure, misalignment between traditional management systems and intelligent development needs, imbalanced digital literacy, and ethical risks alongside regulatory gaps. It proposes systematic development recommendations encompassing policy drivers, industry integration, university practices, and ethical governance.