In recent years, the application of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality has seen substantial growth in the way it is being used in several industries. The tourism industry has especially experienced this increase in utilization in their environment. Hotels and entertainment facilities have access to revolutionary technology that further enhances the customer experience. The amount of value businesses can capture from these technologies is immense to say the least, and will become even more noticeable in the near future.
Imagine booking a trip overseas, having no idea what awaits you in this unknown destination. In this kind of situation, the majority of travelers would conduct preliminary research before finalizing their journey plan. Unfortunately, this takes a great amount of time depending on the person, because the available information is usually not adequate of quality to be sure of your decision. Instead of wasting time mindlessly searching for information, VR technology could provide realistic expectations for potential travelers before heading for their destination. With the application of VR, travel agencies can provide a realistic environment of the destinations for customers. By implementing this into businesses, the agencies can promote their service better, while potential customers garner useful knowledge for their decision. Furthermore, VR could provide a form of entertainment for the airline industry. It can become an immersive experience for airplane passengers while they are on their long-haul flight, giving them the opportunity to enjoy more interactive entertainment aside from watching movies (Marr, 2021).
While VR is a popular emerging technology, AR could revolutionize the current tourism industry as well. Tourists spend a ludicrous amount of time searching for tourist attractions while they are wasting time at their destination or requiring a tour guide. With the implementation of AR, they could potentially use their smartphone as a means to look for nearby attractions effortlessly. Whenever someone points their camera at a location, the software can immediately locate landmarks or sites in the vicinity of the tourist and show them in their camera feed. This way, travelers can undergo a more interactive form of exploration while taking on the leading role themselves (Romero, 2022).
Although this technology proves to be very efficient and effective for various industries, many people assume Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology would take away jobs in the industry and potentially ruin it. However, I personally firmly believe that these technologies should be implemented supplementarily alongside employees to enhance the service of the businesses and experienced customer service.
My own opinion accounts for only a small amount, but I would very much like to hear your opinion and expectations of these technologies in the tourism industry.
References:
Marr, B. (2021, April 12). “The Amazing Ways VR And AR Are Transforming The Travel Industry”. Retrieved September 15, 2022 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/04/12/the-amazing-ways-vr-and-ar-are-transforming-the-travel-industry/?sh=284761336e05
Romero, I. (2022, June 15). “Augmented reality and tourism: the new travel experience”. Retrieved September 15, 2022 from https://www.onirix.com/augmented-reality-and-tourism-the-new-travel-experience/
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two cutting-edge technologies that are quickly being adopted by businesses all over the world. The tourism industry is one of the first industries to adopt AR and VR, with airlines, hotels, and resorts all finding innovative ways to use these technologies to enhance the customer experience and improve the experience itself. The following are just some examples of why I think AR and VR are really transforming the industry…
Providing an interactive, immersive guest experience is becoming increasingly more common for hotels and other hospitality companies as customers have come to expect this. Virtual reality has been used to provide virtual tours of hotels, which give customers an opportunity to experience what the hotel is like before they actually make a booking. This can help them decide if they want to stay there or look elsewhere for their accommodation needs. As you can tell, these things won’t result in reducing jobs but rather enhances the service. Thus, I undeniably agree with you!