A novel greedy genetic algorithm-based personalized travel recommendation system

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the utilization of Tourism Recommendation Systems (TRS) to enhance tourist satisfaction. However, planning a trip can be a daunting and time-consuming process, leading to concerns for travelers. This paper focuses on developing a highly personalized TRS that considers the complexities and limitations of tour itinerary planning. To achieve this, we propose an extension of the constrained orienteering problem that selects the most suitable attractions based on various constraints, such as maximum tour duration, mandatory visits, and start and end locations. In addition, we introduce the use of tier constraints to limit the time spent on similar attractions. In this study, we also propose a novel personalization approach that considers the individual preferences of tourists and generates personalized ratings for points of interest. Next, we focus on developing a new greedy genetic algorithm to address the NP-hard problem of finding optimal or near-optimal solutions. To assess the performance of the developed algorithm, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of the input parameters. Using different user profiles, we demonstrated its effectiveness on a real-world London city dataset. Moreover, we conducted a comparative experimental analysis of the algorithm with four baseline algorithms, and the results were statistically analyzed using non-parametric tests such as Wilcoxon and Friedman. Our algorithm achieved the best-known solutions for 100% of the instances tested, demonstrating its efficiency for large-scale problems with 200-300 points of interest. Furthermore, our TRS provides highly personalized tourist trips, making it a valuable tool for tourists. The new greedy genetic algorithm and unique personalization approach are significant features of the new GlobeTrott tourist recommendation system, which is accessible on popular mobile operating systems and through the website at https://www.globetrott.com/.