EXPLORING TOURISM STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF CHATGPT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has introduced new opportunities in
language learning, including the use of ChatGPT as an interactive learning assistant. In tourism
education, English proficiency is important for communication with international visitors. This study
aims to investigate tourism students’ perspectives of utilizing ChatGPT in learning English for
tourism fields. The study used a descriptive qualitative approach involving tourism students enrolled
in an English for Tourism course. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews to examine
students’ experiences in using ChatGPT to support tourism-related language learning activities, such
as making tour guiding scripts, practicing dialogues with tourists, and generating tourism-related
vocabulary. The findings show that most students perceive ChatGPT as a useful tool that helps them
generate ideas, increase vocabulary related to tourism, and practice English communication more
confidently. Students also reported that ChatGPT gives quick explanations and practical examples
that support independent learning, additionally some students noted limitations based on the need to
verify the accuracy of the information and avoid overreliance on AI tools. Overall, the findings
suggest that ChatGPT can serve as a supportive learning tool in English for Tourism when used
critically and under teacher guidance. The study provides insights into the potential integration of AI
tools in tourism-related English language learning.