Throughout the pandemic and still, the tourism industry has taken a hard knock on its head thanks to the virus’s unprecedented challenges. As we learnt how covid-19 was transmitted between people and countries went into lockdown, the tourism industry suffered greatly.
Thanks to the covid-19 vaccinations, there is a chance things can, and are, slowly returning to normal. That is, of course, with some new regulations and behaviors in place such as wearing face masks, using hand sanitizer and maintaining distances between each other. However, although things are starting to look up, as more variants are born, there is a chance tourism could be affected again, especially as there is a growing reluctance from consumers about boarding a flight.
However, technology could be the answer to picking up the travel and tourism industry thanks to Virtual Reality. Virtual reality is a truly unique medium of technology as it gives users a true sense of being in their surroundings without even having to step foot on a plane. The computer generator world around them can transport them immediately to their destination, giving them a try-before-you-buy experience. Using VR technology will help tourism get back on its feet as consumers can experience the feeling of being in the destination, giving them a better judgement of whether to book or not.
New jersey-based Travel World VR uses virtual reality to develop tools for travel agencies to market travel experiences. According to world travel VR, there is no better way to promote your destination than to bring prospective customers to your platform, which can be achieved through VR, augmented reality (ar) and 360-degree video. In addition, communicating experiences using virtual reality technology is more effective and increases bookings, winning customers over.
For years airlines, travel agencies and tourism associations have used VR technology to market destinations to potential customers. In October, Oculus launched its Quest 2 headset which is compatible with most smartphones and offers popular experiences such as national geographic VR that take users to far-flung destinations to illustrate the use of VR as a replacement for the real thing. However, the impact of covid-19 has allowed “virtual reality to shake off its image as a game-changing gimmick,” said Ralph Hollister, tourism analyst at global data and author of a report on the VR travel industry.
From escapism on the sofa to a growing range of VR travel experiences to whet the appetite for vacations after a pandemic, analysts say this could be a turning point for sophisticated handheld technology and tourism. With trotting banned across the globe during the pandemic, more and more people are turning to virtual reality to ease the pent-up demand for travel. Apps such as Hiking teleport VR travelers to Egypt’s pyramids and the gardens of the Taj Mahal, offering immersive experiences, including hot air balloon rides and city tours, in a bid to get tourism back on track.
Tour operator Kuoni offers potential customers 360-degree tours of the upmarket sandy lane resort in Barbados. We could also see the use of virtual reality in tightening travel restrictions to boost consumer confidence in travel.
The global tourism industry will experience turbulence in 2020 as the covid 19 pandemic continues to restrict travel. Since 90 per cent of the world is subject to travel restrictions, many adventurers rely on virtual reality (VR) to take them to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. The marketing and PR company of the Maldives has used pandemic VR to showcase experiences such as beach yoga and snorkeling.
Tourism in Uganda was on the rise in recent years before the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. However, when the coronavirus broke out, travel restrictions were imposed worldwide for tourists and other visitors who did not come from the country. These restrictions led to a slump in tourism revenues, and hundreds of jobs were lost in the sector.
As the world strives for sustainable tourism, Hollister says VR offers a solution. For example, if a historic site is damaged by mass tourism, restoration in VR could help preserve it. If there are no international trips planned in the next few months, or could take you anywhere in the world without having to enter an airport.
My Africa, developed by the video game company Unity Technologies, is an experience that takes viewers to an elephant sanctuary in Kenya. In addition, National Geographic explores VR experiences for teens and adults that offer intimate insights into the world’s most breathtaking and difficult-to-access environments, such as the imposing shores of Antarctica.
Amadeus has implemented the world’s first virtual reality travel search and booking experience. This allows travelers to complete the entire booking process, select destinations, services and payments, and leave everything in virtual reality. The impact of virtual reality on travel will be determined by developing and applying this new technology. As the global crisis eases, virtual reality entertainment could provide a point of differentiation that airlines need to attract passengers.
Some argue that advances in technology such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, data analysis, and virtual reality will make human systems safer, more human, and productive. The pre-pandemic technology backlash has raised important questions about technology culture and human experience. Still, global discussion of these issues has become bogged down in narrow recriminations, with many technology companies to blame, and challenging conversations and personal accountability are needed. We must leave behind inadequate ideas about what technology and the people who make it do for us and ask ourselves at the highest level how we can shape their future.
