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Elevating Philippine Tourism: A Mobile App Approach

Conference Paper · July 2024

DOI: 10.1109/ICICoS62600.2024.10636880

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 2024 7th International Conference on Informatics and Computational Sciences (ICICoS)

Elevating Philippine Tourism: A Mobile App

Approach
Marienel N. Velasco Minera Laiza C. Acosta Grazziela Antoniette P. Bicomong
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Polytechnic University of the Philippines Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Batangas, Philippines Batangas, Philippines Batangas, Philippines
mnvelasco@[Link] mlcacosta@[Link] grazzielaantoniettepbicomong@iskolar
[Link]

Trisha May R. Aguilera Aenjel Joy D. Delos Reyes Karl Given J. Reginaldo
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Polytechnic University of the Philippines Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Batangas, Philippines Batangas, Philippines Batangas, Philippines
trishamayraguilera@[Link]. aenjeljoyddelosreyes@iskolarngbayan.p karlgivenjreginaldo@[Link]
[Link] [Link] [Link]

Leona Marie B. Dayang

Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Batangas, Philippines
leonamariebdayang@[Link]
[Link]

Abstract—This paper attempts to promote sustainable enhancing travelers' experiences, allowing them to access a
tourism by developing a mobile tourism app designed to wide range of information, make reservations, and interact
elevate the travel experiences and transactions of tourists, with destinations in new and innovative ways [6].
business owners, locals, and the tourism office of San Pablo,
Laguna, Philippines. By leveraging digital technology, the app Additionally, e-tourism and the development of mobile
aims to facilitate seamless interaction and engagement among apps stands as one of the most effective methods to a more
stakeholders, foster responsible tourism practices, and immersive and rewarding travel experience while driving
contribute to the overall economic and social development of economic growth for entrepreneurs in the tourism industry
the region. Specifically, this initiative aims to digitalize both the [7]. Moreover, mobile apps offer a versatile platform for
city's businesses and governmental services, establishing the tourists to access information, make bookings, navigate
foundation for the leadership's aspiration to evolve the City of destinations, and engage with local attractions, contributing
San Pablo into a full-pledged smart city. Moreover, the significantly to the overall enhancement of their travel
findings of the study showed that the respondents highly experiences [8]. Mobile tourism apps have the power to
agreed and conveyed satisfaction regarding the system's drastically alter the travel experience and changed tourist’s
compliance with the ISO/IEC 25010 and Technology thoughts, feelings, and behaviors [9] [10]. It is also known
Acceptance Model (TAM). that there are many benefits to using mobile apps for
tourism, but there are a lot of drawbacks as well, such as
Keywords—e-commerce, e-tourism, mobile tourism app,
Philippine tourism, smart city. concerns with security, legitimacy, and availability [11].
Furthermore, Community-Based Tourism (CBT)
I. INTRODUCTION
represents a form of tourism development established by
Tourism boosts the economy of a country and lowers local communities and officially recognized by both local
poverty by generating new jobs and promoting goods and authorities and the central government [12], [13]. This
services [1]. These days, technology and digitalization are approach emphasizes local involvement and empowerment
revolutionizing travel destinations, experiences, goods and in tourism planning, management, and benefits distribution,
services, market dynamics, and the roles that suppliers and contributing to sustainable development and fostering a
customers play [2]. Technological advancements have sense of ownership and pride within the community.
changed the way tourist enjoy their vacations and given
them more power to make decisions [3] and making the II. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
most of it is imperative for the tourism sector to grow [4]. The tourist industry plays a crucial role in the economy
The emergence of e-tourism can be attributed to the of the Philippines, a country renowned for its rich cultural
revolution in the tourism industry brought about by the swift heritage, diverse natural landscapes, and hospitable people.
advancement of information and communication The archipelago's unique features have consistently attracted
technologies (ICT). As the world's technological a steady flow of tourists from both domestic and
infrastructure advances, e-tourism is gaining popularity, international destinations.
with tourists benefiting from its widespread adoption [5]. E- San Pablo, is a city located in the province of Laguna,
tourism plays a vital role in providing services and which is situated in the CALABARZON region of Luzon,

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 2024 7th International Conference on Informatics and Computational Sciences (ICICoS)

the largest island in the Philippines. San Pablo, Laguna, various aspects of the city's operations and services.
Philippines is known for its seven crater lakes, natural hot Through crafting a specialized mobile application to suit the
springs, rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and requirements of San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines, the
vibrant local community, making it a popular tourist study aims to streamline operations, enhance accessibility,
destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. and stimulate economic growth and progress within the
Additionally, the city is renowned for its agricultural locality. This effort contributes to the broader initiatives
products, including rice, coconut, and fruits, contributing to aimed at transitioning San Pablo, Laguna into a smart city.
the region's economy. Overall, San Pablo offers a blend of
natural beauty, cultural attractions, and economic
significance within the province of Laguna, Philippines.
At present, San Pablo City Tourism Office in Laguna,
Philippines, grapples with a significant challenge in
revitalizing tourism within its region. The aftermath of the
recent global pandemics has severely impacted tourism
activities, resulting in decreased visitor numbers and limited
promotional opportunities. Moreover, the city faces
constraints in effectively utilizing e-commerce platforms to
broaden its reach to potential tourists. These dual challenges
hinder the city's ability to fully capitalize on its tourism
potential and adversely affect its economic growth and
development.
Fig. 1. Research Paradigm
The primary objective of this study is to address the
Fig.1. shows the research paradigm of the study and
prevailing challenges encountered by San Pablo, Laguna,
covers all project implementation stages, including
Philippines, through the development and deployment of an
planning, proposing, obtaining requirements, statistical
e-tourism mobile app. This initiative aims to digitalize both
analysis, and the system development phase, which
the city's businesses and governmental services, establishing
incorporates requirements analysis, designing, prototyping,
the foundation for the leadership's aspiration to evolve the
iterating, testing, and deployment in line with the Agile
City of San Pablo into a full-pledged smart city.
methodology. In addition, system assessments employed the
Moreover, integrating the e-tourism app with smart city Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the ISO/IEC
infrastructure entails utilizing a range of technologies and 25010 standards.
systems to enrich the tourism experience and contribute to III. METHODOLOGY
the city's smart initiatives. The e-tourism mobile app could
utilize location-based services to tailor the user experience, The study employed a quantitative approach, which
offering pertinent details depending on the user's comprises of collection and evaluation of numerical data.
whereabouts. Specifically, the e-tourism app could suggest This approach was the most suitable, since the study focused
nearby restaurants, hotels, or attractions based on user on application development. Purposive sampling technique
preferences and location data, allowing tourists to was used to carefully select a total of fifty respondents for
effortlessly discover and book local destinations, as well as the study, who were a mix of tourists, locals, business
dining and lodging facilities. In addition, the e-tourism app owners, and staff members of the Tourism Office in San
would not only simplify travel arrangements but also serve Pablo, Laguna, Philippines. The participants were chosen
as a means to showcase the rich local culture, advertise based on their specific attributes or experiences that were
indigenous products, and bolster local employment, thereby deemed necessary for the study.
promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth for The main tool for the study was a survey questionnaire
the City of San Pablo. with a 5-point Likert scale. The ISO/IEC 25010 standards,
Additionally, the e-tourism app could utilize real-time which address functionality, efficiency, compatibility,
data from smart city infrastructure to offer users updates and usability, reliability, security, maintainability, and
notifications pertinent to their travel arrangements. The portability, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM),
mobile tourism app could alert users about traffic congestion which gauges perceived usefulness and ease of use, were
along their route to a tourist destination and propose used by respondents to assess the application. The
alternative transportation solutions. evaluation results are carefully calculated using a statistical
treatment, analyzed, and interpreted.
Furthermore, by offering a digital platform for inquiries
and bookings, the mobile apps aim to reduce foot traffic and Furthermore, the entire process of developing a mobile
provide a more modern and efficient approach to tourism app is guided by the Agile model which includes of
management. In essence, the proposed mobile app is gathering requirements, designing, developing, testing,
envisioned as a multi-functional booking application that deploying, and reviewing are the typical phases that make
caters to the diverse needs of tourists while advancing the up this process.
tourism industry in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines.
In general, the e-tourism mobile app leverage digital
technology to overcome existing obstacles and enhance

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 2024 7th International Conference on Informatics and Computational Sciences (ICICoS)

A. Needs Analysis Phase ISO/IEC 25010 standards: functional suitability, efficiency,

The study integrated a needs analysis phase prior to the compatibility, usability, reliability, security, maintainability,
development of the mobile application, which ensured that and portability, and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM):
the e-tourism app was tailored to efficiently meet the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use.
requirements and preferences of its intended users, thereby
enhancing the tourism experience in the City of San Pablo,
Laguna. This stage commenced by identifying the needs,
goals, and challenges faced by the target users, utilizing
methods such as interviews, surveys, and observations to
gain a deeper understanding of user preferences, behaviors,
and challenges pertinent to tourism experiences in San Pablo
City.
The subsequent phase involved gathering both functional
and non-functional requirements, which were derived from
the needs identified during the analysis phase. This included
specifying features, functionalities, content, and design
elements necessary to meet users' needs and fulfill the Fig. 2. Tourist App – Login, Forgot Password, and Sign-up page
application's objectives. Ultimately, the final phase involved
consulting with stakeholders to solicit input and feedback. In Fig. 2, the tourist app page displays a login form for
These stakeholders included tourism officials, business tourists to access the app, a forgot password form for
owners, tourists, and other potential users. This ensured that account recovery, and a sign-up form for new users. In
the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders were taken essence, a basic security measure was implemented through
into account during the development process, fostering the creation of user accounts and registration to prevent
community support for the application. unauthorized access. This approach entailed establishing
fundamental registration procedures, requiring users to
B. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Methodologies generate accounts with unique credentials to securely access
The development of e-tourism app utilized multiple the app's functionalities. By employing this registration
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) methodologies to process, unauthorized entry was deterred, guaranteeing that
prioritize a user-centered approach and enhance the user only users with valid credentials could log in and make use
experience. During the designing and developing phase, the of the app's features.
focus of the study was on transforming gathered
requirements into tangible design solutions and seamlessly
integrating them into a functional mobile application.
Throughout the design process of the e-tourism app's
user interface (UI), a thorough approach was utilized to
ensure usability, accessibility, and adaptability,
accommodating various user needs and preferences.
Specifically, the UI of the e-tourism app was designed to be
simple, user-friendly, and responsive to different screen
sizes, ensuring consistency across devices. Moreover, the
design phase was iterative, continuously gathering feedback
from users to refine the interface and better meet their needs Fig. 3. Tourist App – Home page and Other Tourist Pages
and preferences over time. Fig.3. shows the home page along with other pages that
C. Frontend and Backend Infrastructure tourist can view. Some of its most significant locations are
highlighted in a carousel of images.
The development of the e-tourism mobile application
involved using programming languages like HTML, CSS, In addition, the e-tourism mobile app employed Google
JavaScript, and Java, alongside software tools such as Maps, which was regarded as a type of Geographic
Figma, Android Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Firebase. Information System (GIS). Google Maps utilized
Moreover, the e-tourism mobile application utilized geographic information and spatial data to provide users
Firebase, a vast Google platform that provides a range of with interactive maps, directions, and location-based
tools and services for developing and managing mobile and services in San Pablo City. Users could also search for
web applications. Firebase provided a comprehensive locations, view satellite imagery, get driving directions,
platform for building and managing the backend explore Street View imagery, and access multiple layers of
infrastructure of the e-tourism app. It facilitated the delivery geographic information, including roads, landmarks, and
of an engaging and user-friendly experience for app users, points of interest. Overall, GIS plays a crucial role in
all while maintaining security, reliability, and scalability. enhancing the app's functionality by providing accurate
mapping, navigation assistance, contextual information, and
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
spatial visualization to facilitate tourism in the City of San
This part of the paper discussed the features of the Pablo, Laguna, Philippines.
application and the respondent's evaluation based on

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 2024 7th International Conference on Informatics and Computational Sciences (ICICoS)

Furthermore, visitors can learn more about San Pablo,

Laguna, Philippines by clicking on the "Nature," "Products,"
"Hotels," and "Activities" buttons.

Fig. 6. Administrator App – Administrator Dashboard

TABLE I. SYSTEM EVALUATION BASED ON ISO/IEC 25010
STANDARDS

Characteristics Mean Verbal Interpretation

Fig. 4. Tourist App –Booking, Reservation, and Review Page
Functional Suitability 4.6 SA
Fig.4. shows the tourist app – booking, reservation, and
review pages. The tourist can make a reservation through Efficiency 4.5 SA
the app and write reviews about their experiences or rate the Compatibility 4.7 SA
establishment. A summary of the visitor's confirmed, Usability 4.6 SA
canceled, and pending reservations is also shown on the
page, along with all of the places they have reviewed. Reliability 4.5 SA

Moreover, the e-tourism app integrated GCash and Security 4.5 SA

PayMaya, digital wallet platforms, as its payment gateways, Maintainability 4.5 SA
providing users with a more convenient and secure method
Portability 4.4 A
for conducting online payments. Additionally, GCash and
PayMaya often offer rewards, promotions, and cashback Average Mean 4.54 SA
incentives to users, further enhancing their appeal as Legend: Strongly Disagree (SD) 1.00 – 1.80, Disagree (D) 1.81 – 2.60, Neutral (N) 2.61
3.40, Agree (A) 3.41 – 4.20, and Strongly Agree (SA) 4.21 – 5.00
preferred payment methods for e-commerce transactions in
the Philippines. Table 1 demonstrates that, according to the ISO/IEC
25010 standards, the application received an average mean
score of 4.59 and a verbal interpretation of strongly agree.
This implies that the mobile app's functionality has garnered
high user acceptance. It is considered efficient, compatible
across various platforms, and all its features are deemed
valuable. Moreover, the system is dependable and provides
security to its users. Furthermore, the app is easily
maintainable and portable.
TABLE II. SYSTEM EVALUATION BASED ON TECHNOLOGY
ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM)

TAM Characteristics Mean Verbal Interpretation

Perceived Ease of Use 4.7 SA
(PEOU)
Perceived Usefulness 4.6 SA
(PU)
Fig. 5. Business Owner App –Booking, Reservation, and Profile
Average Mean 4.65 SA
Fig.5. shows the business owner app – booking, Legend: Strongly Disagree (SD) 1.00 – 1.80, Disagree (D) 1.81 – 2.60, Neutral (N) 2.61-
3.40, Agree (A) 3.41 – 4.20, and Strongly Agree (SA) 4.21 – 5.00
reservation, and business profile pages. These pages allowed
business owners to closely monitor each reservation and Table 2 shows that the application obtained an average
booking detail. They can also update their business profiles rating of 4.65 and a verbal interpretation of strongly agree
to provide tourists with more information about their based on the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) for
products and services. perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. This implies
Fig.6. shows the administrator app – administrator that the users deemed the mobile app to be very useful and
dashboard that the Tourism office of San Pablo, Laguna can user friendly. This suggests that users considered the mobile
access. The Tourism office is able to closely monitor the app to be highly useful and user-friendly.
performance of all accredited establishments by looking at V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
the summary of their performance, which includes the total
In conclusion, this study has shed light on the various
number of establishments per category, most booked, most
ways that the developed mobile tourism application
reserved, and least booked.
improved visitors' experiences in San Pablo, Laguna,

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