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

Abstract

The aim  of  this  research  was  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.