Creating Completely New Tourist Attractions and Providing Answers
ChatGPT Offers More Detailed Analysis of Travel Expenses
As the global craze for generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues, Google fully opened its AI chatbot 'Bard' on the 10th (local time), entering into full-fledged competition with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Both AIs offer Korean language services, drawing attention to which platform domestic users will gravitate towards.
Microsoft (MS), an investor in OpenAI, and Google have introduced the search capabilities of their AI chatbots by highlighting their usefulness in planning trips. Since traveling involves searching for many things such as places to visit, restaurants, accommodations, and transportation, AI chatbots can help reduce the hassle.
With both AI chatbots now capable of conversing in Korean, a couple in their 30s requested a 5-day travel itinerary for Jeju Island, a representative domestic travel destination.
◆ Lotte World in Jeju? ... Which itinerary caught more attention?
Prompt: A couple in their 30s is going on a 5-day trip to Jeju Island. Please create a travel plan.
Google Bard's recommended itinerary:
* Day 2: Visit Jungmun Tourist Complex → Eco Land, Lotte World, Yongduam Rock, etc. → Lunch at a popular restaurant within the tourist complex → Explore Seogwipo city, visiting Cathedral Park, Ora Tourist Complex, Chilseokpo Port, etc. → Dinner at a local restaurant in Seogwipo
* Day 3: Drive along Jeju's east coast → Visit attractions such as Saebyeol Oreum, Seopjikoji, Jeongbang Waterfall → Lunch with seafood dishes at a coastal restaurant → Explore Jeju Olle Trail (choose between courses 7 and 8) → Dinner at a restaurant in Hallim-eup
* Day 4: Drive along Jeju's north coast → Visit Yongnuni Oreum, Songaksan, Hamdeok Beach, etc. → Lunch with seafood dishes at a coastal restaurant → Visit Jeju 4.3 Peace Park, including Yu Gwan-sun Memorial Site and 4.3 Memorial Hall → Dinner at a restaurant in Jeju city
* Day 5: Return rental car at Jeju Airport → Departure
ChatGPT's recommended itinerary:
* Day 2: Watch sunrise at Jungmun Tourist Complex, visit Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jusangjeolli Cliff → Samyang Black Sand Beach → Dinner with black pork in Seogwipo City
* Day 3: Visit Udo Island and Seongsan Ilchulbong → Visit Haenyeo Village on Udo Island and have seafood meal → Dinner with seafood dishes in Seogwipo
* Day 4: Morning walk at Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest → Visit Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jusangjeolli Cliff → Swim and surf at Hyeopjae Beach → Dinner with Korean cuisine in Jeju City
* Day 5: Visit Seongeupsa → Shop for local specialties in Jeju villages → Return rental car at Jeju Airport and depart
Although the travel courses suggested by Bard and ChatGPT seemed plausible, there were errors throughout. 'Lotte World' and 'Ora Tourist Complex' mentioned by Bard do not currently exist in Jeju. The 'Seongeupsa,' a national treasure-level temple suggested by ChatGPT for the first itinerary on day 5, also does not exist in Jeju. When asked further about the non-existence of the temple named Seongeupsa, ChatGPT responded, "I misunderstood and provided incorrect information. The referenced information was wrong. The temple does not actually exist."
There were also inconvenient route considerations when planning the travel courses. For example, Bard's day 2 itinerary has visitors going from Jungmun Tourist Complex to Yongduam Rock and then back to the tourist complex for lunch. This implies that Yongduam Rock is near Jungmun Tourist Complex, but the two locations are nearly an hour apart by car. ChatGPT also repeated visits to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and Jusangjeolli Cliff on both day 2 and day 4.
◆ When asked to plan a trip including children... more experiential elements ↑
The two AI chatbots were asked again to plan a 5-day trip to Jeju Island, this time for a family of four with two children instead of a couple in their 30s.
Google Bard presented the same itinerary as before but added advice at the bottom of the schedule, stating, "If traveling with children, it is good to keep in mind" and suggested ▲ choosing sights and activities that children can enjoy ▲ preparing meals and snacks suitable for children.
On the other hand, ChatGPT included tourist spots and programs where children can directly enjoy and experience, such as visiting the Lee Jung-seop Art Museum to appreciate artworks, purchasing fresh seafood at Seogwipo Fish Market, and experiencing traditional culture at Seongeup Folk Village. There were also activities like cave exploration, water play, and spring flower viewing.
However, similar to the itinerary provided to the couple, ChatGPT's new itinerary contained many incorrect pieces of information. It included several places that do not exist in Jeju, such as 'Sammunseokgul' and 'Heosiseul Beach.' When asked again whether these tourist spots actually exist, ChatGPT apologized.
◆ Accommodation and transportation costs totaling 500,000 KRW per person?
We asked Bard and ChatGPT about the estimated expenses based on the travel plans they each created for the couple in their 30s.
Bard answered that the cost for the 5-day itinerary would be between 500,000 and 600,000 KRW. It explained in detail that Airbnb accommodations cost 50,000 to 100,000 KRW per night, hotels cost 100,000 to 200,000 KRW per night, car rentals cost 100,000 to 150,000 KRW per day, and intercity buses cost 10,000 to 20,000 KRW one way. Meals at restaurants cost 100,000 to 200,000 KRW per meal, and snacks from convenience stores cost 50,000 to 100,000 KRW per meal. Entrance fees to tourist attractions were estimated at 50,000 to 100,000 KRW per day. Airfare was not included but would cost an additional 100,000 to 200,000 KRW, according to Bard.
Considering that Bard mentioned accommodation costs alone could reach up to 1,000,000 KRW, the estimate of 500,000 to 600,000 KRW per person seems inappropriate. Also, spending 50,000 to 100,000 KRW on a single meal at a convenience store does not appear realistic.
Bard responded, "Costs may vary depending on the time of travel to Jeju Island," adding, "During peak seasons, accommodation and airfare can be more expensive, and costs may increase depending on individual spending patterns."
ChatGPT estimated that including airfare, the cost per person would exceed 500,000 KRW. Airfare was estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 KRW, luxury hotel accommodations at over 150,000 KRW per night, and villa-type accommodations at 50,000 to 100,000 KRW. Food expenses were estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 KRW per person per day, and entrance fees to attractions at over 10,000 KRW per person. ChatGPT explained, "Costs can vary greatly depending on meals and accommodations, so please prepare a detailed budget yourself."
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