NiVU: The AI Travel Companion Changing How We See the World

From Discovery to Intelligence: Explurger’s NiVU Brings AI-Powered Tourism to the Forefront on World Tourism Day 2026. The travel industry is stepping into a fresh digital era. Artificial intelligence has moved beyond the back-end infrastructure of travel platforms; it is now becoming an integral part of the visitor experience, assisting travellers in uncovering destinations, grasping their context, and making smarter decisions throughout their trips.

This evolution was evident during the World Tourism Day 2026 observances in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where discussions regarding digital transformation and artificial intelligence emphasized how technology can redefine the connection between destinations and travellers. In Andhra Pradesh, World Tourism Day 2026 was hosted in Rajahmundry (Rajamahendravaram) on September 26 and 27 under the themes "The Godavari Calls" and "Digital Agenda & AI – Redesign Tourism," in association with Andhra Pradesh Tourism.

During the event, Vishal Soni, Chief Strategy Officer, Explurger, engaged in dialogues concerning AI and digital tourism. He underscored the capacity of emerging technologies to elevate tourism beyond traditional, information-heavy discovery, steering it toward more contextual and personalized interactions. This transition is significant. While modern travellers have unprecedented access to data, finding the right details at the precise moment often requires toggling between maps, websites, social media, and various travel services.

Conversational AI is now opening new doors to solve this. NiVU, the AI-powered travel companion from Explurger, is engineered to transform destination information and support into a seamless, conversational experience. Travellers can engage with NiVU to explore locations, attractions, local experiences, navigation, weather, translations, and other travel-related queries through natural dialogue. This technology gains particular relevance as AI extends beyond the smartphone and integrates directly into the destination itself.

Through a collaboration between Explurger and Andhra Pradesh Tourism, NiVU is being deployed across various tourism sites via QR-enabled digital touchpoints. Visitors can scan a QR code at participating locations to interact with the AI-powered companion, gaining insights about the destination and discovering relevant experiences nearby. This strategy effectively transforms a standard tourism touchpoint into an interactive layer of destination intelligence.

Whether at a heritage site, temple, museum, or other attraction, a visitor can inquire about its history, find nearby points of interest, explore local activities, or ask questions tailored to their specific interests and time constraints. With support for more than 130 languages, the platform is also built to ensure destination information is accessible to travellers from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

The dialogue regarding AI-driven tourism continued at the World Tourism Day 2026 event in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, held on September 27 under the theme "Digital Agenda & Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism." Serving as the AI Partner, Explurger showcased NiVU as a prime example of how conversational technology can foster more interactive and contextual destination experiences. Manisha Manchanda, AVP – Strategic Partnerships, represented Explurger at the event, engaging with tourism and industry stakeholders on the future of technology-led travel.

NiVU QR Boards were also installed at the venue, providing participants with a first-hand experience of AI-powered destination discovery and demonstrating how a physical tourism touchpoint can evolve into an interactive interface. The interest from tourism leaders highlighted the growing appetite for practical AI applications in the sector, with Thiru. S. Rajesh Kumar, Minister for Tourism, Tamil Nadu, and Thiru. Raja Gopal Sunkara, I.A.S., Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, experiencing NiVU at the event.

For destinations like Tamil Nadu—home to centuries-old temples, heritage sites, beaches, hill stations, diverse cuisine, and rich cultural experiences—AI offers the potential to make discovery far more personalized. A traveller focused on architecture might seek out heritage experiences, while another might prioritize local food, nature trails, or photography spots. Conversational AI can surface relevant information based on these individual preferences, rather than providing every visitor with the same generic checklist.

The opportunity is even greater for tourism authorities. AI-enabled digital ecosystems can bridge the gap between visitors, destinations, and tourism infrastructure, while establishing more accessible information touchpoints throughout the travel journey. However, technology does not replace the essence of what makes travel meaningful. The people, stories, culture, food, and local experiences remain the core of tourism. AI simply makes it easier for travellers to uncover these elements, understand their significance, and navigate their journey around them.