The travel and tourism industry always seeks out newer technologies and attractive ways to engage with customers. AR/VR technologies, in recent years, have blessed the sector with access to an array of fresh opportunities. We are witnessing a rise in AR and VR tourism, which most travel providers are fielding as a booster to immersive experiences. Businesses are seriously pondering over the development of AR/VR apps to enable users to enter real-time versions of the places that they wish to travel.

Key drivers

Travelers can now discover destinations in ways previously impractical due to the availability of AR and VR. Using these techs, enthusiasts can experience the local culture of a place, visit the museum, or take virtual tours to popular destinations without leaving the comfort of their homes.

By 2023, the AR/VR market is expected to increase, reaching a staggering $304 million. The rising demand for travel and tourism is one of the critical drivers for the growth of the industry. Due to the increasing investments by travel companies in cutting-edge tech solutions, North America presently accounts for most tourism-related AR/VR. The Asia Pacific, however, is anticipated to be the next in line to experience development. AR/VR looks promising across travel booking, gaming, navigation, and hospitality within the travel industry.

Top Benefits of AR/VR Tech

Improved museum experience and gamified tours are some of the main applications of AR and VR with the highest potential.

• VR travel will enable users to explore new locations without leaving their place. Virtual reality tourism will influence how people will travel in the future. While it might not wholly substitute actual travel, individuals can digitally visit certain parts of the world before physically going there.
• Virtual hotel tours are created for clients who wish to assess the room before booking. This try-before-you-buy idea can be deployed across several expensive locations, such as Maldives and Dubai, where hotels frequently promote themselves through VR.
• Test drives are made possible through VR. Users can test drive various itineraries and locations. These excursions assist users in determining if they wish to commit time and resources for their trip. Alternatively, customers get a better understanding of the trip, which indirectly promotes bookings.
• AR is primarily focused on navigation and geolocation. So, you can use Google Translate or Google Lens to scan and interpret maps, street signs, and more. For instance, Google Maps has AR functionalities (much like Apple’s AR kit), making navigation easy. Signages can be superimposed with clear instructions on the roads.
• Crowds can be overwhelming for some, and visiting museums, especially in areas that lack skilled and experienced staff, can be daunting. Besides, physical excursions are strictly timed, brief, and highly generic in nature. AR resolves all these problems by providing visitors with comprehensive guided tours of an exhibition or a museum.

AR and VR are all set to improve traveler experiences and are worth implementing in the travel and tourism sector. This tech has several fascinating applications, and we recommend you try out their tech capabilities as soon as possible.