Awakening the senses: sensescapes’ mapping and smart surveys on Saint James Way

This paper analyses the role of sensescapes in tourism planning, focusing on smart surveys and GIS mapping and analysis for pilgrimage tourism. A mixed methods approach and primary and secondary sources were used. A methodology was developed to collect and analyse territorial sensorial characteristics across the five main senses by using three main characteristics. A smart survey and GIS desktop and online tools were used to create a heat map. This is one of the first studies using a methodology based on smart surveys to collect sensory data, then using GIS to map and analyse it. By utilizing GIS for data collection and combining all sensory data, this study aims to bridge a gap in the previous research. This paper enhances tourism theory and practice by outlining the current and prospective use of emerging technologies, including smart surveys and GIS heat maps, in the tourism industry.