travel agency

While those partnerships give a boost to those companies in the short-term, ChatGPT’s encroachment into commerce could result in travel agencies being pushed out in the long-term, Cunningham says.

"If they work too much with governments, travel agencies and other related parties, there will be this question about credibility and how much their decisions are influenced by other parties," she told AFP.

Since then, travel agencies and brokers have drawn people from all over the world to join what they call Russia’s “elite international battalion,” dangling a raft of benefits to attract would-be recruits.

But while it was initially billed as being open to international tourists, so far only Russians, entering in groups and organised by accredited travel agencies, have been allowed in.

"Kathy has a travel agency. She does trips to Italy," she said.