International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Joseph Kiggundu, Dr. Vaibhav Bhushan Tyagi
Abstract: This paper explores the tourism sector which has experienced a rapid digital transformation due to the increasing use of mobile technologies and online platforms. However, in many local tourism environments, interactions between the tourist and the guides remains largely informal, often relying on personal contacts and unstructured communication channels. This lack of a structured digital platform creates challenges in service discovery, booking coordination, transparency, and accountability among tour guides. This project presents the design and implementation of a Local Tourism Guide Android Application aimed at improving interaction between tourists and registered local tour guides. The system introduces a centralized mobile platform that allows tourists to search for available guides, request bookings, negotiated service quotations, and communicate with guides through a real-time messaging feature. In addition, the system incorporates a guide performance evaluation mechanism based on booking frequency, ratings, and service activity to promote transparency and service quality. The system is implemented using Flutter for the mobile application interface, PHP for the backend RESTful API services, and MySQL as the database management system. Integration with location services enables tourists to discover guides based on geographical proximity. An administrative module is also included to support system governance through user management, booking monitoring, and performance analytics. The developed application aims to enhance coordination within the local tourism ecosystem by introducing structured workflows for guide discovery, booking management, communication, and service evaluation. By providing a unified digital platform, the system seeks to improve the reliability, accessibility, and transparency of local tourism services.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20265958
