Walnut Creek partners with data company to keep track of visitors in efforts to boost tourism

In Walnut Creek, California, the Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Arrivalist, a tech company, to monitor cell phone usage. This initiative aims to gather aggregated data on tourist behavior, including their origins and length of stay. Bob Lincheid emphasized the anonymous nature of the data collection, which focuses on location without compromising individuals' personal information. This approach mirrors efforts in other Californian cities like Sonoma and Stockton, as local officials seek insights to enhance visitor attraction strategies.

The data is aggregated and anonymous. So we don't really track individuals, as much as aggregated data," said Bob Lincheid with Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce.

City business leaders teamed up with a San Francisco tech company called Arrivalist to keep tabs on people's cellphones.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco