Geotour (https://www.geotour.gr) is a dynamically evolving web platform designed to foster sustainable tourism and cultural exploration in Crete. Built on the WordPress content management system (CMS), Geotour leverages an array of custom development and third-party integrations to offer a rich, interactive user experience.
Core Functionalities
- Structured Listings: All content on Geotour is organized into “listings,” each categorized into a typology (e.g., accommodation, archaeological site, fortifications). Listings can be filtered using a faceted search system, utilizing criteria such as category, location, tags, and even custom fields unique to each category.
- Spatial Data Integration: Geotour integrates spatial data into its listings. Each listing is geolocated, allowing for map-based visualization and navigation. Furthermore, the platform leverages the WordPress REST API to expose location data in GeoJSON format, facilitating the export of listings into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or web-based mapping applications.
- Enhanced Information Displays:
- The Virtual Tour (https://tour.geotour.gr): Many listings feature interactive spherical panorama photo, providing immersive, 360-degree views of the locations. The tour not only enhances the browsing experience but also serves as an alternative navigation tool within the website.
- Weather Forecasts: Geotour integrates with the OpenMeteo API to provide 3-day weather forecasts for most listings, aiding users in trip planning.
- Open Data Enrichment: Information from the SearchCulture repository is incorporated to supplement many listings with additional cultural and historical context.
- User Reviews: Google Maps Reviews are integrated into relevant listings, offering insights from other travelers.
- Calendar Integration: Listings related to events or festivals display relevant dates on a calendar, allowing users to easily identify temporal connections between different listings.
Custom API Development
Geotour extends beyond the standard WordPress REST API endpoints by offering additional, custom-built endpoints designed for enhanced interoperability with external systems:
- Listing Endpoint: Provides granular filtering options, including search strings, language selection (English/Greek), and category filtering. Future iterations will expand this to include location and tag filters.
- GeoJSON Endpoint: Directly outputs listing data in GeoJSON format, ideal for consumption by GIS software or WebGIS platforms.
- Festive Dates Endpoint: Presents festival/event dates in a structured JSON format compatible with popular calendar libraries like FullCalendar.
Open Collaboration and Licensing
Geotour invites users to actively contribute to the platform. All textual and visual content on Geotour is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), allowing for non-commercial reuse with attribution and share-alike requirements.
Ongoing Development
Geotour is actively under development, with planned enhancements including expanded filtering options, refined API endpoints, and potential integration with other external data sources. The platform aims to serve as a valuable resource for both travelers seeking sustainable and culturally immersive experiences in Crete, as well as professionals who seek to promote their businesses.
