Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Corporate Governance in the Tourism Sector in Zimbabwe: Implications for Development

Abstract

The aim of this was to to recognise the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Corporate Governance (CG) in the Zimbabwe tourism sector and assess its implications for development. The study was qualitative in nature, where data were solicited using an interview guide, with responses collected from 20 purposively selected senior employees in 5 key tourism sectors in Zimbabwe. Data were then analysed and presented thematically. Drawing from the study, major findings demonstrated that there is a significant positive impact of AI on CG effectiveness, particularly in enhancing transparency and fostering ethical decision-making. The major findings also show that AI can enhance decision-making by providing valuable insights from large volumes of data and automate certain governance processes, thereby reducing human error and bias. Based on the study results, the study concluded that by addressing the ethical implications of AI, the research can contribute to the responsible use of AI, ensuring that the benefits of AI are realized in a way that is ethical and sustainable in the Zimbabwe tourism sector. However, there is a need for a comprehensive framework for leveraging AI in CG, which balances the potential benefits of ethical and transparency issues. Future research should delve deeper into the ethical and transparency issues of AI in CG in the Zimbabwe tourism sector. This study provides a foundation for this evolution, contributing to the enhancement of CG in the era of AI for sustainable development of the tourism sector in emerging economies.