A web-based application for recommending local eateries in Sarawak for tourists using contentbased filtering algorithm

Sarawak's rich culinary heritage is a significant factor driving tourism in the state. Information about restaurants is widely available in a digital age, but too much information is an issue for visitors. It can be very difficult to find authentic local restaurants, particularly if tourists need to find Halal restaurant foods within a particular area. This project proposes a web-based application, named Sarawak Food Guide, to solve this problem by providing highly personalized local restaurant recommendations with the help of a Content-Based Filtering algorithm. The methodology used in designing the project was Modified Waterfall Model in the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), which goes through the following phases: Planning, Requirement Analysis, System Design, System Implementation, and System Testing. In conclusion, this project offers a tangible and innovative solution for a food recommendation system that can be adapted by the tourism industry to direct tourists and encourage local cuisine in Sarawak. The prototype is successful, yet it has some minor drawbacks such as the reliance on manual user input through preference forms to generate initial recommendations, the reliance on a static database, and some inaccuracies when the geolocation is done using the browser. Future improvements might include implementing a "passive learning" option that would automatically determine user preference from clickstream data, thereby avoiding the need to have to fill out a preference form, and making the user experience even more streamlined.