The City Council of Antequera presented its new virtual assistant 'Acilia' on Tuesday, based on artificial intelligence, which will handle tourist inquiries continuously from the municipal website.
The City Council of Antequera has taken a firm step towards tourism digitalisation with the launch of 'Acilia', an AI-based virtual assistant that is already operational on the website turismo.antequera.es. The Deputy Mayor for Tourism, Ana Cebrián, and the technical manager of Sinergia Soluciones Digitales, José Puchades, presented the tool on Tuesday, July 7, at the City Museum.
'Acilia' will allow users to make tourist inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any device with internet access. The system, which employs natural language processing, is capable of interpreting questions posed in a conversational manner and providing immediate answers about the heritage, cultural offerings, schedules, services, and other resources of the city.
A commitment to accessibility and continuous support
Ana Cebrián highlighted during the presentation that this initiative is part of the municipal strategy for innovation and digital transformation. “We want to offer increasingly close, accessible, and efficient support to both our residents and those wishing to visit Antequera, adapting to the new ways in which people seek and consume information,” she stated.
The tool represents a particularly significant advancement for people with visual impairments or those who prefer to interact via voice, as the conversational system removes barriers to accessing information. Additionally, it complements the hours of physical tourist offices, ensuring continuous support.
The project is part of the MUNITUR 2024 programme and has involved an investment of 10,769 euros. The councillor emphasised that this amount reinforces the council's commitment to digitalisation and enhancing the visitor experience.
How 'Acilia' works and the benefits it brings
José Puchades, the technical manager of the project, explained that 'Acilia' is directly integrated into the Tourism website and uses an artificial intelligence platform that interprets natural language. “The assistant is capable of understanding variations in the way questions are asked and providing precise and tailored responses to each inquiry,” he detailed.
One additional advantage is that the system collects information on the most frequently asked questions, allowing the Tourism Department to identify information needs and continuously improve the service. Thus, municipal managers can adjust content and anticipate tourist demands.
For the residents of Antequera, 'Acilia' is also useful: it allows them to check museum hours, local events, or recommended routes without having to call or visit an office. The tool is already available at turismo.antequera.es, accessible from mobile, tablet, or computer.
With this initiative, Antequera establishes itself as an intelligent tourist destination, joining other cities that have already incorporated virtual assistants. The commitment to technology aims not only to attract more visitors but also to enhance their stay and facilitate access to information.
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