IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsoctx/v15y2025i2p34-d1589072.html

Empowering African American Tourism Entrepreneurs with Generative AI: Bridging Innovation and Cultural Heritage

Author

Listed:
  • Babu George

    (School of Business, Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS 39096, USA)

  • Anupama Peter Mattathil

    (SNAP-Ed Program, Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS 39096, USA)

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) present opportunities and challenges for African American tourism entrepreneurs. This paper conceptually explores how tools like language models, image generators, and creative assistants can be used for content creation, personalized marketing, and deeper customer connections. Drawing on relevant innovation- and resource-related theories, this paper examines factors influencing the adoption of generative AI among African American tourism entrepreneurs. The analysis highlights the potential to address tourism-specific needs like virtual tours, multilingual content, and conversational AI assistants. The paper recognizes challenges faced by African American entrepreneurs, including the digital divide, and suggests solutions such as partnerships and training programs aimed at responsible AI adoption. This work aims to provide a foundation for understanding how generative AI can drive innovation and cultural preservation within the African American tourism sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Babu George & Anupama Peter Mattathil, 2025. "Empowering African American Tourism Entrepreneurs with Generative AI: Bridging Innovation and Cultural Heritage," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:34-:d:1589072
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/34/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/34/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wei Guan & Wenhong Ding & Bobo Zhang & Jerome Verny, 2023. "The role of supply chain alignment in coping with resource dependency in blockchain adoption: empirical evidence from China," Post-Print hal-03935256, HAL.
    2. Babu George & Ontario Wooden, 2023. "Managing the Strategic Transformation of Higher Education through Artificial Intelligence," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Lonnie R. Snowden & Jonathan M. Snowden, 2021. "Coronavirus Trauma and African Americans’ Mental Health: Seizing Opportunities for Transformational Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, March.
    4. Xiaochun Zeng & Suicheng Li & Zahid Yousaf, 2022. "Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Digital Innovation: How Does Digital Resilience Act as a Mediator and Training Protocols as a Moderator?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Magdalena Markowska & Johan Wiklund, 2020. "Entrepreneurial learning under uncertainty: exploring the role of self-efficacy and perceived complexity," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(7-8), pages 606-628, August.
    6. Xuguang Guo & Wei Chen & Denis Iurchenko, 2021. "Impact of college education on incorporated and unincorporated self-employment: variations among African Americans and Hispanics," New England Journal of Entrepreneurship, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(1), pages 70-90, November.
    7. Dominic Chalmers & Niall G. MacKenzie & Sara Carter, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship: Implications for Venture Creation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 1028-1053, September.
    8. Adam, Martin & Wessel, Michael & Benlian, Alexander, 2020. "AI-based chatbots in customer service and their effects on user compliance," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 119304, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni & Obaloluwa Obed Oyewo & Ranti Falana & Edwin Okoro, 2025. "Strengthened Through Collaborations: Convergence of Interfirm and Intrafirm Knowledge Exchange for Improving Informal Economy SMEs' Sustainability Performance," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(2), pages 1315-1329, March.
    2. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Li, Jiangnan & Yan, Jingyang, 2025. "Can artificial intelligence contribute to the new energy system? Based on the perspective of labor supply," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Noor Irliana Mohd Rahim & Noorminshah A. Iahad & Ahmad Fadhil Yusof & Mohammed A. Al-Sharafi, 2022. "AI-Based Chatbots Adoption Model for Higher-Education Institutions: A Hybrid PLS-SEM-Neural Network Modelling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Venkat Ram Reddy Ganuthula, 2025. "AI-enabled individual entrepreneurship theory: redefining scale, capability, and sustainability in the digital age," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Li, Shuqi & Zhu, Yuxuan & Xu, Nuo, 2025. "Computing resources and trade credit financing: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. Francisco Olmo-García & Fernando Javier Crecente-Romero & María Teresa Val-Núñez & María Sarabia-Alegría, 2023. "Entrepreneurial activity in an environment of digital transformation: an analysis of relevant factors in the euro area," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Katharina Blöcher & Rainer Alt, 2021. "AI and robotics in the European restaurant sector: Assessing potentials for process innovation in a high-contact service industry," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(3), pages 529-551, September.
    8. Sewoong Hwang & Jonghyuk Kim, 2021. "Toward a Chatbot for Financial Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Ram Subramaniam & Murali Sambasivan, 2025. "Analyzing the role of digital/non-digital technology entrepreneur typology in external factors’ influence on venture launch decisions," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    10. Hyungseok David Yoon & Mustapha Belkhouja & Luis Alfonso Dau, 2025. "Privacy protection laws, national culture, and artificial intelligence innovation around the world," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 56(7), pages 853-873, September.
    11. Olivia Hornung & Stefan Smolnik, 2022. "AI invading the workplace: negative emotions towards the organizational use of personal virtual assistants," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(1), pages 123-138, March.
    12. Yaser Hasan Al-Mamary, 2025. "The transformative power of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship: exploring AI’s capabilities for the success of entrepreneurial ventures," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, December.
    13. Angela Altmeier & Christian Fisch, 2025. "To syndicate or not: a replication and extension about the influence of business angels’ personality traits on syndication using Twitter data," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 1357-1391, June.
    14. Thai Ha Nguyen & Lena Waizenegger & Angsana A. Techatassanasoontorn, 2022. "“Don’t Neglect the User!” – Identifying Types of Human-Chatbot Interactions and their Associated Characteristics," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 797-838, June.
    15. Kruse, Daniel J. & Eling, Katrin & Herstatt, Cornelius, 2025. "How social entrepreneurs search for knowledge to solve complex social problems – An empirically based model and typology," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    16. Wojciech Trzebiński & Beata Marciniak & Eliza Kulczycka, 2023. "Online recommenders’ anthropomorphism improves user response to hedonic and benefit-based product appeals through the recommenders’ perceived ability to learn," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-23, June.
    17. Frank M. Fossen & Trevor McLemore & Alina Sorgner, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 20(8), pages 781-904, December.
    18. Davidsson, Per & Sufyan, Muhammad, 2023. "What does AI think of AI as an external enabler (EE) of entrepreneurship? An assessment through and of the EE framework," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    19. Mihailova, Irina, 2023. "Business model adaptation for realized international scaling of born-digitals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    20. D'Al, Francesco & Santarelli, Enrico & Vivarelli, Marco, 2024. "The KSTE+I approach and the advent of AI technologies: evidence from the European regions," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1473, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:34-:d:1589072. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.