Cajamarca Go: A mobile application with an intelligent assistant for the promotion of sustainable tourism

Abstract

This research evaluated the impact of the CAJAMARGA GO mobile application on the promotion of sustainable tourism in Cajamarca, Peru, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12 of the 2030 Agenda. A pre-experimental design with pre-test/post-test measurement was employed, using a non-probabilistic sample of 50 participants (tourists and service providers). The data collection instrument, validated by five experts (content validity index = 0.92) and demonstrating acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87), measured three dimensions: knowledge of sustainability, intention toward responsible behavior, and satisfaction with the digital tool. The application was developed using the agile SCRUM methodology (three two-week sprints), integrating geolocation via the Mapbox API, route optimization using Dijkstra’s algorithm, 3D modeling with Three.js, and a conversational assistant based on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) implemented in n8n with a local knowledge base. Results, analyzed using a paired t-test (SPSS v.28), showed statistically significant increases (p < 0.01) in knowledge of sustainable practices (+38.6%), intention toward responsible behavior (+32.4%), and perceived satisfaction (4.6/5.0). The conversational assistant resolved 92% of queries without human intervention. It is concluded that CAJAMARGA GO constitutes an empirically validated technological solution to strengthen sustainable tourism governance, with scalability potential in rural destinations of the Andean region. The main contribution lies in the integration of low-cost artificial intelligence with certifiable sustainable tourism standards.