Incorporating ChatGPT into Hospitality and Tourism Education: A Comparative Student and AI Study
Philip Feifan Xie · Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education · 2025
This paper aims to compare assignments generated by ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence, with those written by tourism major students at a US institution. The analysis focuses on selected topics within contemporary travel and tourism. Students were asked to write assignments on their chosen subjects and then generate corresponding versions using ChatGPT. This allowed for a direct comparison, facilitating a deeper understanding of the tourism topics. By examining the similarities and differences in these writings, we aimed to ascertain the potential contributions and limitations of using ChatGPT in tourism curricula. The study identifies three major issues: accuracy and reliability, ethical implications, and the shifting role of the educator. Overall, ChatGPT presents a promising tool for revolutionizing hospitality and tourism education. Leveraging its capabilities for personalized learning, enhanced accessibility, and industry-specific knowledge, educators can create more engaging, effective, and relevant learning experiences.