Last Updated on February 3, 2021 by Husain Parvez
For many people, a trip to Disneyland or Venice, the floating city, in Italy is a bucket-list ambition. In 2020, plans for these and other international trips were suddenly halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, many key travel destinations that were once-crowded sights lay dormant, with many hotels empty. By some estimation, the pandemic put more than 40 million jobs at risk across the tourism and travel sector.
Since VR technology is improving, it may open new opportunities and use cases. This begs the question: could virtual reality replace holiday travel? Or, will we experience the same intimate connection that we get when traveling via VR? While many people are worried that virtual reality might alter traveling, the reality on the ground is different. Here’s why.
A Glance of VR in the Travel Sector
Businesses that operate in the travel sector have been quick to adopt VR technology, and there’s a good reason for this. Ideally, some customers are looking to buy experiences rather than products. This way, VR offers marketers a path to give these clients a taste of what they expect. In traditional traveling, travel customers require plenty of information before they book a room in a hotel. This might need them to, in some instances to read descriptions, watch videos, view images, or search for online reviews. However, using VR technology can reduce this process significantly.
We recommend checking our graph for comparative data insights, which globally offers a detailed analysis of virtual travel interest. On average, many people have placed a keen interest in virtual travel, and we can expect the sector to grow big in the coming years.
Via Compare The Market Travel Insurance
Based on the statistics, we can expect to see more people opting for virtual travel in 2021 and the coming years.
Virtual Hotel Tours
The best example of VR in action in the travel sector is using this technology to provide virtual tours of hotels. This experience allows clients to view what the hotel looks like before arriving at the physical location. Additionally, it offers more transparency compared to standard images on websites. In many cases, hotels will offer this view through a website or distributor and require a VR headset to experience the travel tour. The virtual experience consists of a standard 360-degree image. Additionally, this image is also compatible with social media platforms and simple virtual reality technology like Google Cardboard.
VR vs. Actual Travel
In the modern world, where touring different destinations is considered an amazing experience, VR can be considered an alternative. With VR technology, you can now visit a certain place without traveling, cutting costs while enjoying a similar experience to someone who did travel. With VR travel, it means that there will be less crowding in most of these tourist destinations, helping to preserve the natural beauty of the area. This improves the overall environment as less emissions are created and your eco-footprint is reduced. Tourism is a big factor for an economy and while the money you save means that less goes into the country, you can still help industries by purchasing good quality technology and through word of mouth. Another thing to notice is that less traveling it means reduced exposure to the deadly coronavirus.
What Does VR Technology Mean for Travel Agents?
Many travel companies have utilized the use of VR technology. Virtual reality offers a tool for travel agents to effectively market travel experiences. This means companies can market and promote destinations to inspire customers through cinematic VR productions. Additionally, many travel companies have also embedded this technology in mobile apps, which you can access freely.
Virtual reality is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down. This means that different industries – especially the tourism industry – should research ways to use VR to benefit their clients. VR is here to stay by challenging how we travel and choose our destinations and accommodations in the long haul.
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