Monitoring Tourist Footfall at Nainital in Uttarakhand using Sensor Technology

Abstract

This study records the general perception of local residents on tourism industry at Nainital in Uttarakhand and highlights the major concerns of the local residents on the influx of tourists. The researchers conducted a perception analysis of the local residents and addressed issues like environmental threats, safety risks, traffic congestion, increased cost and inconvenience etc. and proposed a sensor model as a solution to the existing problem. It reviews the existing traditional method of data collection and management of the tourist inflow and suggests sensor technologies to maintain accuracy in footfall data collection for the regulation of the arrival and exit of tourists at Nainital. The current study highlights the need for footfall monitoring and management via footfall sensors. The researchers in the study recommend the selection and installation of sensor technological solution discussed in the study over the current system of footfall data collection done manually. The readily available footfall sensors will facilitate visitor analytics and enable an effective management of tourist inflow at Nainital. The data will help in framing policies by the local authorities to control the arrival of visitors at the destination. In future, it can also be implemented across other tourist places of Uttarakhand state.