Identifying sensor placement problem in smart tourism through consumer-oriented approach

Abstract

Tourism activities have shown a rapid growth depending on economic return. The ability to meet expectations in tourism services requires the collection of more information about consumers. Tourism sector has an important source of big data, and there has been a significant opportunity in terms of real-time customer-oriented services creation by using data sensor networks. In this context, it is important to determine sensors’ location to collect eligible information. It is necessary to create an effective consumer oriented solution with an optimal cost because of high number and variability of attractiveness. The aim of the research is determining the sensor placement criteria that can be used to collect most effective consumer attitude and behaviour information in order to create the smart tourism area. It was preferred to use the fuzzy AHP method because the information to be gathered contained multiple criteria, differed tourist expectations, and binary comparisons were included. It has been seen that “Direction to tourism attractions of destinations (gastro, entertainment, nature etc.) (attractiveness)” and “guide to popular tourist destination (popularity)” criteria are the main specifications of the locations for the sensor’ placement point according to attractiveness preferences of tourists.