Design of a Smart Tourism Platform for Enhancing Visitor Experience and Flexible Learning by Students of Tourism in Bauchi State

Abstract The global digitalization of tourism has revolutionized destination management, yet many regions in developing countries remain constrained by fragmented information systems and inadequate educational tools. Bauchi State, Nigeria, possesses significant tourism assets, including the Yankari Game Reserve, Wikki Warm Spring, and the Tafawa Balewa Tomb; however, these attractions remain underutilized due to limited digital integration and infrastructure gaps. This study proposes the design of an offline-first, multilingual Smart Tourism Platform (STP) tailored to the Bauchi context to simultaneously enhance visitor experiences and support flexible learning for tourism students. Adopting a mixed-methods Design Science Research (DSR) approach, the study involves stakeholder interviews, visitor surveys (N=50), and student needs assessments (N=100). The proposed platform integrates geolocation, digital storytelling, augmented reality, and e-learning modules, specifically engineered to function in low-connectivity environments. The article develops a conceptual architecture and evaluates the platform's impact on destination competitiveness and pedagogical engagement. Findings indicate that the STP significantly improves destination accessibility, tourist decision-making, and experiential learning. Ultimately, this research contributes a context-specific model for smart tourism development in emerging destinations across sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Smart tourism, digital tourism, visitor experience, flexible learning, Bauchi State, tourism education, tourism platform, Nigeria