Creating AR and VR experiences for the tourism sector

20 January 2020 / By John

Travel-based industries are raising the bar for innovation and creating customer value across the tourism sector. More and more travel companies are using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to encourage brand engagement in a completely new way – opening up a new style of customer servicing and selling experience.

Here are some examples:

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Rizort VR app gives customers an opportunity to ‘virtually’ explore and get a real feel for a Rizort destination and experiences. Current destinations: Bali, Thailand, the Maldives, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Fiji and Japan. The app is a mixture of VR and 360 degree video, over-layered with useful information. It also has a multiuser mode which allows groups of people to check out a location or experience at the same time. It works on headsets such as Oculus Go and Samsung gear.

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Hub Hotel by Premier Inn, located in London’s Covent Garden is an app-controlled hotel. Everything from check-in, to controlling room light and heating, to ordering breakfast. It also features an AR map of London in every room. Guests hover their camera over the map and bubbles appear on it, offering more information when tapped, such as restaurants and bars, reviews from other guests and publications.

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VR and AR is also changing the traditional retail space. Travel companies are moving away from a desk and some brochures to create something more sociable and interactive.

Virgin Holidays have installed a Virgin Virtual Reality in-store rollercoaster experience at their concept store in Milton Keynes, UK. Shoppers can put on a VR headset and be transported to a popular Virgin Holiday destination. This is a fun and visually stimulating way to engage with potential customers. Other features, such as Virgin’s Premium and Upper Class seats lets customers “try before you buy” where they get to sit back with a glass of bubbly and a consultation with a travel expert. 

AR and VR is also breathing fresh life into tourist destinations and attractions. Creating digital augmentations over a historical landmarks enables the site to be seen in a different and expanded perspective. Visitors can delve into the past and the story behind it, enabling visitors to really deepen their understanding. BBC in partnership with Aardman Animations created a mobile AR app that enables visitors to experience the evolution of the Roman Baths in time perspective and ‘in situ’ – standing at the actual position at key moments in time.

Do you want to create a VR or AR experience? We can help. Through a combination of creative thinking and bespoke software, hardware and design we can create memorable VR and AR experiences for you. Do get in touch!

Nina Bradley

Digital Producer, Kingdom x

About The Author

John

John C. Graham is the President of Travel World VR (formally Perillo Travel VR.) John has over 30 years of Travel Industry sales expertise. As a Vice President/Executive Publisher/Editorial Columnist at various Travel Trade Publications. John also has produced a number of Travel Trade Show's, while pioneering "Video Streaming" for the Travel Industry in 1999!