UaiGuia: Enhancing tourist experiences in São João del-Rei, Brazil, through personalized route creation and cultural immersion

Abstract

Digital transformation is becoming increasingly essential for developing the global economy. Within this advancement framework lies the tourism industry, where the growing demand from travelers for new experiences drives the search for increasingly technological solutions. Among the many tourism segments are religious, natural, gastronomic, and cultural tourism. These, in turn, seek to offer travelers personalized options based on individual preferences and specific interests. Given the significant growth of Brazilian tourism in recent years, it seems coherent to enhance new technologies that can invigorate the sector. In this regard, this research proposes the development of a mobile application designed to assist users in creating personalized routes in the city of São João del-Rei (Brazil). The study employed design science research with software engineering methods to achieve the desired outcome. The result is the creation of the mobile application called UaiGuia, which provides a distinct approach to exploring the rich culture and tourist attractions in the city of São João del-Rei. The app’s main characteristic is allowing tourists to create routes based on their interests according to the local features. Moreover, access to cultural events, festivals, and other attractions via the application enhances the stay in the city even further, supporting a better immersion in the richness of the region’s heritage.