Sensors track tourists in Catalunya, a popular tourist town in Spain.

A POPULAR Spanish town has devised a new method of tracking tourist numbers. The sensors track the signals of mobile phones.

Officials from the picturesque Catalan village of Girona installed nine detectors within Bari Vell – a popular medieval district with tourists – that will count visitors and map their route.

The device will use the mobile phone signal to determine whether passersby are locals or tourists, which routes they take through town, and for how long.

The local council insists all information gathered is anonymous. This data will help authorities get a better idea of tourists’ patterns.

READ MORE San Juan celebrations in Spain turn deadly: Two people have been shot dead in Girona and a third person has had his throat cut in Barcelona.

Gemma Geis said that the new system would allow the city to better balance locals with tourists and adjust events accordingly.

The Menja’t Gurona, a project funded by the European Union has provided the funding for the sensors.

Officials hope the investment of over €20,000 will allow Girona to become a ‘smart tourist’ destination at a time of growing anti-tourist sentiment across Spain.

Girona will welcome over 8.5 millions visitors in 2024.

Click here for more Spain News by The Olive Press.

Discover Tailor-Made Tours

Simply Holiday Bookings allows you to create your own personalized holiday experience.

Book Now