A Hybrid Spatial–Experiential Design Framework for Sustainable Factory Tours: A Case Study of the Optical Lens Manufacturer

Industrial tourism has become an increasingly important means of promoting corporate identity and fostering public engagement, yet many factory tours suffer from fragmented layouts, congestion, and low visitor engagement. This study addresses these challenges by developing a hybrid framework that integrates expert-driven spatial zoning with bottom-up visitor analytics. Using an optical lens manufacturer in Taiwan as a case study, we applied a three-step process: (1) Delphi-based zoning of key subareas into functional zones, (2) empirical analysis of visitor movement, feedback, and shadowing data, and (3) computational spatial evaluation through Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA). The findings revealed thematic inconsistencies, overlooked exhibits, and bottlenecks that disrupted narrative flow and reduced engagement. Spatial reorganization—such as relocating interactive subareas to visually integrated zones—enhanced circulation, storytelling alignment, and experiential coherence. A complementary service blueprint linked spatial redesign to operational delivery, ensuring consistency between frontstage activities and backstage support. The data-driven spatial analytics validated the effectiveness of this study’s hybrid approach—combining expert-driven insights with grounded visitor behavior data—to optimize factory tours. Spatial efficiency contributes to reduced energy use and congestion, participatory experiences enhance education and inclusivity, and improved visitor satisfaction strengthens brand resilience and economic viability. The framework thus provides a replicable and sustainable model for industrial tourism development across diverse manufacturing sectors.