What Features Should a Tourism App Have? Lessons from Loei and the Lanexang Route

Short answer: A tourism app should let visitors find attractions, food, accommodation and souvenirs in one place, get there with GPS navigation, and reach emergency contacts quickly. Features such as AR, 3D models and audio narration make places more engaging and make people want to see them in person.

Key takeaways

• All categories in one app, with menus that are easy to scan
• GPS navigation to a chosen place or nearby places
• Important and emergency contacts
• AR and 3D models to tell a place's story
• iOS and Android, and several languages where foreign visitors come

1. Everything in one app

Visitors don't want to switch between apps. Pakchom Loei, built by iPANDA for DASTA Special Area 5, has 5 main menus: attractions, souvenir shops, restaurants, accommodation and important contacts. Attractions are grouped by district, popularity and proximity.

2. GPS navigation

After choosing a place, users should be able to start navigation right away or see nearby places from their location. Both Pakchom Loei and Lanexang Info include GPS navigation.

3. Important and emergency contacts

Hospital, police and tourist-service numbers must be the fastest thing to find, so give them their own menu instead of hiding them on other pages.

4. Cover the whole route, not one province

If the goal is to promote a route, include every area on it. Lanexang Info covers the Lanexang Cultural Quadrangle: Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu and Udon Thani in Thailand, and Xayaboury, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang in Laos.

5. AR, 3D models and narration

AR shows places in 3D through the phone camera and lets users take photos with them. Chill Loei shows virtual models of Loei's attractions, while 3D Lanexang offers 3D models, audio narration and a photo gallery, with or without markers.

6. Multiple platforms and languages

Build for both iOS and Android, and add languages for your main visitor groups, especially on cross-border routes.

What to prepare before building

1. Places and information for each category, with coordinates and photos
2. Who will update the content after launch, through a back office
3. The languages to support
4. Extra features you want, such as AR, 3D models or booking

FAQ

Can we update the app content ourselves?

Yes. The app can be built with a back office where staff add or edit places without releasing a new app version.

Should we build an app or a tourism website?

A website helps people find you on Google before they travel; an app helps during the trip with navigation and AR. Read Website, Web Application or Mobile App.

How much does a tourism app cost?

It depends on the menus, AR or 3D features and languages. The iPANDA team gives an initial estimate after a short briefing.

Talk to iPANDA

See Mobile Application Development and VR & AR Development, or call +66 96 904 5454 or email ipandathailand@gmail.com.