How could a travel and tourism company use VR?

Virtual reality (VR) has transformed the way we interact with our surroundings. Its immersive and interactive technology has created new opportunities, particularly in the travel and tourism business. Businesses must rely on virtual reality to stay relevant and offer services as the COVID-19 pandemic grips the globe.

This blog post will explore how a travel and tourism company can leverage VR technology to enhance the customer experience. The possibilities are endless, from virtual tours of popular tourist destinations to creating customized travel itineraries. We will delve into the advantages of using VR, including increased customer engagement, reduced costs, and the ability to showcase a wide range of travel options.

Virtual Reality in the Travel Industry

Virtual reality (VR) technology has brought a new dimension to the travel industry. With VR, travelers can experience destinations and attractions completely, immersive, and interactively without leaving their homes. This technology allows people to virtually explore hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and tourist sites, giving them a taste of what to expect before booking.

VR technology allows travelers to customize their travel experiences, such as choosing specific rooms, activities, and dining options, all before setting foot on the destination. This helps reduce any anxiety or uncertainties travelers may have before their trip. Moreover, VR technology has become an important marketing tool for the travel industry, allowing travel companies to showcase their offerings innovatively and engagingly. It also enables them to reach a wider audience and provide a more personalized experience for each traveler.

Benefits of using Virtual Reality in the Travel Industry

Virtual Reality has several benefits for the travel industry, travelers, and businesses. Here are the benefits of using VR in the travel industry:

1. Improved travel planning: Unlike conventional travel materials like images or movies, VR enables tourists to explore destinations, hotels, and activities in a more immersive manner. Travelers may be able to use this to make better judgments and feel more assured about their travel arrangements.
2. Boosted engagement and brand recognition: VR experiences can be an effective marketing tool for travel agencies since they let prospective clients sample a location or hotel before making a reservation. Raising engagement and brand recognition may result in more reservations and income.
3. Cost-effective marketing: VR technology eliminates the need for expensive physical marketing materials or travel costs for site visits, it can be a cost-effective solution for tourism businesses to display their locations or hotels.
4. Personalized and customized experiences: VR can create personalized and customized travel experiences for individuals or groups tailored to their interests and preferences. This may improve client loyalty and satisfaction.
5. Travel that is safe and easy to access: VR can be utilized to offer accessible travel experiences for people who might have financial or physical restrictions that prevent them from traveling. Also, it enables risk-free travel in situations where it could be prohibited, like a pandemic.
6. Improved training and development: VR can be used to train travel industry employees more immersive and engagingly, allowing them to gain practical experience and skills without needing on-site training.

Applications Of VR in tourism

Virtual Tours

Virtual tours are one of the most popular applications of VR in tourism. With VR, travelers can explore destinations virtually, allowing them to experience the destination without physically being there. This technology gives travelers a taste of what the destination has to offer, allowing them to decide whether or not to visit. Virtual tours benefit remote destinations, places that are difficult to access, or people who cannot travel for various reasons.

One of the best examples of virtual tours is the VR experience provided by the British Museum. The museum partnered with Samsung to create a VR tour of their Egyptian exhibit, allowing people to explore it virtually. The VR experience includes a guided exhibit tour with information about each artifact.

Virtual Hotel Tours

Hotels can benefit from VR technology as well by offering virtual tours of their buildings. This technology allows tourists to view hotel rooms, services, and amenities before arriving at the hotel, giving them a better understanding of what to expect. Virtual tours can also highlight various sorts of rooms and suites, allowing guests to make more informed judgments when booking their accommodations.

One excellent example of a virtual tour of a hotel is the Atlantis Dubai Virtual Tour VR 360.

Atlantis Dubai is a premium hotel resort on the man-made Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The hotel has collaborated with the virtual reality business YouVisit to produce a 360-degree virtual tour of the site, allowing potential visitors to explore the hotel before arriving.

The virtual tour allows viewers to explore the hotel’s rooms, suites, and facilities, including the Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, and several dining options. The VR experience also provides information about each attraction and facility, allowing travelers to learn more about the hotel and make informed decisions when booking their stay. The virtual tour will enable travelers to experience the hotel before they arrive, providing them with a taste of the hotel’s luxury and amenities. This, in turn, can lead to increased bookings and revenue for the hotel.

Virtual Booking Interface

A virtual booking interface is another application of VR technology in the tourism industry. This technology allows travelers to book their travel experiences in a virtual environment, providing a more immersive and engaging booking experience. A virtual booking interface can be used for flights, accommodations, activities, and other travel experiences.

One example of a virtual booking interface is the “FlyVR” platform developed by the Spanish airline Iberia. The platform provides a VR experience of Iberia’s business class cabin, allowing potential customers to experience the amenities and features of the cabin before booking their flights. The VR experience also provides information about the flight, including the route, duration, and departure time.

Virtual travel experiences

Virtual travel experiences are another exciting application of VR technology in the tourism industry. These experiences allow travelers to explore different destinations and attractions virtually, providing an immersive and engaging experience. Here are two examples of virtual travel experiences:

A Virtual Honeymoon to London and Hawaii In 2020, the tourism board of London and the Hawaii Tourism Authority collaborated to create a virtual honeymoon experience for couples unable to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience was hosted on the VR platform “Virtually Visiting” and allowed couples to explore some of the most romantic destinations in London and Hawaii.

The virtual honeymoon experience included a 360-degree tour of London’s iconic landmarks, such as the London Eye and the Tower of London. The experience also had a virtual tour of Hawaii’s beautiful beaches and natural attractions, such as the Na Pali Coast and the Haleakala Crater. The virtual tour was accompanied by romantic music and narration, providing couples with an immersive and memorable experience.

Another example is a Visit to Hamilton Island in 360˚ Virtual Reality with Qantas. In 2016, Australian airline Qantas partnered with Hamilton Island to create a 360-degree virtual reality tour of the island. The VR experience allowed travelers to explore the island’s luxury accommodations, pristine beaches, and stunning natural attractions like the Great Barrier Reef.

The virtual tour was hosted on Qantas’ website and was accessible through a VR headset or a desktop computer. The experience was narrated by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, providing an engaging and informative tour of the island.

Virtual city tour Guide

A guided virtual city tour is an immersive experience allowing individuals to explore a city from the comfort of their homes. The tour is typically led by a guide who uses a VR headset to showcase different parts of the city, providing historical and cultural context along the way.

One real-life example of a guided virtual city tour is the “Virtual Walks” series by Context Travel. The company offers virtual tours of cities such as Paris, Rome, and New York City, led by local guides who provide insider knowledge and historical context.

During the tour, participants wear a VR headset and are transported to different parts of the city, such as the Louvre in Paris or the Colosseum in Rome. The guide provides commentary and answers questions from the participants, allowing for a more interactive and engaging experience.

Another example is the “Immersive 360” tours offered by the tourism board of Melbourne, Australia. The virtual tour allows viewers to explore different neighborhoods and attractions in the city, including Federation Square, St. Kilda Beach, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The tour is led by a local guide who provides historical and cultural context and insider tips about the best places to eat and drink in the city. The tour is available on the Visit Melbourne website and can be viewed on a VR headset, computer, or mobile device.

In conclusion

The travel and tourism industry is on the brink of a VR revolution. By incorporating VR technology into their services, travel and tourism companies can provide customers with a more engaging, interactive, and immersive travel experience. From virtual tours of popular tourist destinations to personalized travel itineraries, the possibilities of VR are endless. As technology continues to advance, the travel and tourism industry must adapt to keep up with the evolving needs and expectations of customers. The future of travel is VR, and it is up to travel and tourism companies to embrace this technology and take their services to the next level.

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