Exploring Interactive Tourism Data Visualization for Effective Decision-Making and Spatial-Temporal Analysis

The tourism industry relies heavily on effective decision-making processes for both travelers and stakeholders alike. Information visualization plays a crucial role in facilitating these decisions by presenting complex and diverse data in intuitive and engaging ways. However, significant challenges remain for remote areas such as data availability, quality, and interpretation. Effective information visualization not only requires access to comprehensive and reliable data but also demands the ability to accurately interpret and communicate insights derived from this data. Addressing these challenges is essential to harness the full potential of information visualization in enhancing decision-making processes and driving innovation within the tourism sector. The main research objective of this paper is to investigate the feasibility, methodology and usability of interactive data visualization techniques within the realm of tourism based on a case study in Sarawak Tourism which is under-studied to demonstrate its effectiveness. By leveraging diverse datasets including visitor arrival statistics, destination popularity, transportation, and natural attractions, a web-based interactive visualization platform is implemented using Data-driven Document (D3.js) JavaScript library. A systematic methodology consists of three stages is proposed and implemented: (1) data collection and preparation, (2) iterative design and development followed by (3) usability study and improvement. As a results, a fully functional and interactive web-based tourism data visualization platform called “Adventure Sarawak” is created to address the research gaps and provide comprehensive insights into the Sarawak tourism industry through interactive features such as filtering, comparison tools, and details on demand etc. The research also delves into critical design considerations and challenges involved in developing such a visualization system. A usability study with 10 participants is conducted to validate the practicality and usability of the proposed solution. Overall, this paper aims to contribute to the field of smart tourism research by providing insights into the design and implementation of effective visualization solutions for tourism decision-making in under-studied areas using a case-study approach. Future work includes exploring the capability of such system in tourism demand forecasting and planning by including predictive and prescriptive machine learning models.