For many years, traditional motorized boats (bangkero) and large transport barges have been the primary forms

of public transportation connecting the mainland to Santiago Island in Bolinao, Pangasinan. However, managing

these services presents significant difficulties due to their decentralized nature, lack of standardized booking,

and heavy reliance on traditional cash fare and paper manifest collection methods. Enhancing fare collection,

capacity management, and route information has become increasingly important to address the inefficiencies of

these manual processes, such as payment delays, human transcription errors, and capacity uncertainties. This

/ stakeholders, aiming to implement technological solutions that optimize commuting and tourism operations,

specifically along the Santiago Island transport routes within Bolinao, Pangasinan. The system enables travelers

to effortlessly book slots digitally, which automatically calculates the fee and tracks capacity. This method

removes the need for manual fare management, booking delays, and human mistakes. The study concludes with

recommendations for future expansion and further improvements to enhance overall efficiency in public

transportation and tourism management.

Index Terms – Web-Based Navigation, Booking, Tourism Management, Santiago Island, Bolinao Pangasinan

Transport and tourism systems are essential in supporting regional connectivity and economic growth. The barge

transport ecosystem consists of various interrelated actors, from shippers and carriers to barge and inland

Santiago Island, located in Bolinao, Pangasinan, is a historically and culturally significant destination known for

its scenic beaches, marine biodiversity, and heritage sites. The island serves as an important tourism hub,

attracting both local and foreign visitors.

Despite its tourism potential, travelers to and from Santiago Island often encounter difficulties due to the absence

of a centralized system for boat and barge booking, limited access to real-time travel information, and the lack

of an integrated platform that connects tourists to essential services such as restaurants, swimming pools, and

grocery stores. These challenges result in inefficiencies, long waiting times, and inconvenience, particularly

during peak travel seasons.

Effective tourism development requires not only adequate infrastructure but also strong destination management,

technology adoption, and transport coordination. Studies on tourism destination management emphasize

environments (Mejas et.al., 2024). Supporting this, web-based ticketing and booking systems for maritime travel

have been shown to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual processes, and enhance passenger experience

in island destinations (Mulyana et.al., 2023). At the strategic level, research on smart tourism highlights how

digital integration and stakeholder collaboration enhance tourist experiences and operational efficiency across

destinations ((Roukouni & Zuidwijk, 2020). Meanwhile, intelligent transportation planning and coordinated

mobility systems are essential in improving accessibility, safety, and reliability, which are critical to tourism

competitiveness and service continuity (Sulaymanov & Kaypova, 2025). Finally, futures-oriented tourism

studies underscore the need for adaptive, technology-driven strategies to address long-term uncertainties and

ensure resilience in an evolving global tourism landscape (Zhao et.al., 2022).This study presents framework

reasons for development and feasibility of the Islalink System.

situation of the intended users of the IslaLink system, while the developmental approach was applied to design

and implement an online barge and boat booking and tourism management system. The proposed system was

implemented through a web-based application.

The researchers employed an iterative software development approach that emphasized flexibility and

continuous improvement throughout the system development process. The IslaLink system development

included several phases: requirements analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and review.

Interviews and observation were the primary data gathering methods used to understand existing booking

procedures and tourism operations on Santiago Island. Questionnaires were also administered to assess the

acceptability and usability of the system among tourism staff, barge and boat operators, and tourists. System

analysis tools such as flowcharts, entity relationship diagrams, and three-tier architecture were utilized to ensure

Primary data were collected through interviews with a landing barge captain and selected key stakeholders using

purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews with five qualified participants provided qualitative insights into

operational challenges and system requirements relevant to improving maritime and tourism services.

The development of the proposed system was undertaken using an adopted software development model as

shown in Figure 1 below.

Source://targettrend.com/agile.methodology//images.app.goo.gl/VCNgRjfUsxWfwn84A

walk-in procedures and pen-and-paper documentation. Under this system, boat and barge operators, along with

the local Tourism Office, managed bookings, capacity tracking, and manifest creation through decentralized,

time-consuming tasks. Without a centralized digital record, the island's maritime logistics lacked real-time

updates, making the day-to-day operations vulnerable to data discrepancies and administrative delays.

The primary problem identified in this manual setup was a significant communication gap that led to operational

risks and traveler frustration. Stakeholders frequently faced long queues, while the absence of a real-time

tracking system increased the likelihood of overbooking and safety concerns during manifest creation. Travelers

suffered from a critical lack of service information, forcing them to rely on informal negotiations and in-person

inquiries, which resulted in significant pre-trip uncertainty and delays, especially during peak tourism seasons.

To address these inefficiencies, the proposed IslaLink system introduced a suite of digital features designed to

The system evaluation, conducted through a survey based on ISO 25010 standards, confirmed a high level of

quality and acceptability across all measured criteria. The assessment validated the system's performance in key

areas such as Functional Suitability, Usability, and Performance Efficiency, while also ensuring robust standards

for Security, Portability,

Compatibility, and Reliability. Overall, the feedback gathered by the researchers indicated that the platform is

well- designed and effectively meets the requirements of its intended users.

The existing information ecosystem for Santiago Island relied on a fragmented mix of manual and informal

sources, including physical brochures, social media pages, verbal referrals, and independent travel blogs. While

brochures and Facebook pages provided general announcements and travel advisories, they often suffered from

outdated content and a lack of integration with real-time booking systems. Furthermore, the heavy reliance on

word-of-mouth from local drivers or resort staff and user-generated content from online forums led to

inconsistent, unstandardized information regarding pricing and logistics. These decentralized channels created

significant discrepancies for travelers, highlighting the urgent need for a single, verified digital platform to

provide accurate and real-time tourism data.

Navigation and booking for Santiago Island currently relied on informal, manual, and location-dependent

An interview with Santiago Island travelers and stakeholders in Bolinao, Pangasinan were conducted, several

challenges were identified in the current tourism and transport management system, including the absence of

centralized information, manual record-keeping, and limited regulatory oversight. These issues led to inaccurate

data, inefficient booking processes, long queues, and the lack of an online reservation platform, resulting in

reduced operational efficiency and a less convenient travel experience.

The tourism and transport ecosystem for Santiago Island is marked by inefficiencies due to its reliance on

decentralized and manual processes. The absence of a centralized database limits data accuracy and accessibility,

making it difficult for the Tourism Office to verify operator accreditation and for travelers to obtain reliable

information on pricing and availability. This results in inconsistent services and uncertainty in travel planning.

Spot and Restaurants features offer centralized, verified directories with exact pricing and contact details,

removing the need for unreliable verbal referrals. Figure 4 shows the Boat Booking features of the proposed

system. Figure 5 shows the Barge booking mechanism of the proposed system.

The Barge Booking module standardized the booking process through a guided, digital workflow that automated

scheduling, capacity management, and manifest generation. This approach reduced manual errors, ensured

pricing transparency, and replaced inefficient walk-in transactions with a secure and consistent system.

The researcher integrated a feature that will help travelers find different destinations that the island can offer.

This feature guides the traveler from their current location to their destination as shown in Figure 6 below.

In terms of functional suitability, the system obtained a mean score of 4.00 (very good), demonstrating that it

effectively delivers the required features and functions. Similarly, security, portability, compatibility, reliability,

and maintainability each received a mean score of 4.00, reflecting strong performance in ensuring data

protection, system adaptability, interoperability, consistent operation, and ease of maintenance.

Meanwhile, usability recorded a mean of 3.83 (very good), suggesting that users generally find the system easy

to learn and use, with minor opportunities for interface enhancement. Performance efficiency received a mean

of 3.66 (very good), indicating acceptable system responsiveness and resource utilization, though further

9. Sulaymanov, S. A., & Kaypova, M. D. (2025). Internal academic publication – no public access link

10. Zhao, Y., Wang, H., Guo, Z., Huang, M., Pan, Y., & Guo, Y. (2022). Online reservation intention of tourist