Currently, we can find a very strong relationship between augmented reality and tourism. After all, an immersive tourist experience that encourages traveler education is being sought. That’s why it’s said that we’re experiencing a true tourism revolution.
Use of AR in Tourist Destinations
It’s not difficult to find uses of augmented reality and tourism since AR is very well-known nowadays. Therefore, let’s show you a bit about how this technology is transforming tourism activities.
Transforming Destination Exploration
The use of AR in tourist destinations is transforming how travelers explore new sites. Some examples include:
- Allows travelers to obtain the cultural and historical context of the sites they are visiting
- Immersive experiences can be created where ancient buildings are reconstructed or interaction with historical figures occurs
- Accessibility is improved for people with visual impairments
There’s no doubt that augmented reality and tourism are strengthening their ties. The real goal is to create a more engaging experience for tourists.
Benefits of AR for Tourists
There is no doubt that the benefits of AR applied to tourism are many. We should start because now travelers can move efficiently in places they are not familiar with. Additionally, they can learn more about the places they visit without the need for in-depth research.
The keyword is immersion, and thanks to augmented reality and tourism, we can delve deeper beyond the visual. Context, interesting data, interactive characters, and alerts for tourists are added.
Innovations in AR for Travel Guides
One of the most important points is the innovations in AR for travel guides. After all, they are providing a lot of help to visitors so that they can explore any site no matter where they are.
Enhanced Interactive Guides
It’s evident that interactive guides are the highlight of augmented reality and tourism. Among its most interesting advances, we find:
- By mixing AR with virtual reality, 3D reconstructions of destroyed sites can be created
- The possibility of creating shared guides to learn about other travelers’ experiences has also been talked about
- Through artificial intelligence, recommendations can be made to travelers according to their interests
- Through the cloud, the execution of interactive guides is made much faster
There is no doubt that the best representation of augmented reality and tourism is AR travel guides. Of course, we currently have several real-life use cases.
Augmented Reality in Tourism: Use Cases
Do you think innovations in AR for travel guides haven’t started to be implemented? There are already several examples. Among these, we mention the following:
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, an AR app is being used. In this way, visitors can navigate through the MET and scan some of the artworks to obtain a virtual replica.
Another example is the Rome AR app, which allows users to experience a journey to Rome in a different way. Thanks to this platform, they can see reconstructions of buildings like the Colosseum or the Roman Forum. There are also other options like AR Ancient Rome to interact with characters like Julius Caesar.
There is also a project called Yellowstone AR that allows you to explore Yellowstone National Park like never before. This is part of the park’s guide and map app that was launched on the App Store.
As you can see, there are many cases in which solutions with AR are being developed for travelers. However, what is the real impact this has had on the industry?
Impact of Augmented Reality on Tourism
If you’re wondering what the impact of augmented reality on tourism is, we’ll answer that question shortly. After all, this technology has had a significant impact on this sector.
Changing the Game for Tour Operators
The travel business has grown a lot thanks to technology, and the use of AR is no exception. This has completely changed the work of tour operators:
Now users have access to more information about the sites they are visiting. This reduces the work of tour guides but provides them with new opportunities.
There is improved accessibility so that more people can experience travel, regardless of their condition.
There are also new revenue opportunities thanks to guided AR tours and customer loyalty.
If we previously saw significant advances in the tourism sector, now the opportunities are even greater. This directly affects the customer’s appreciation of the service and the place they visit.
Increasing Customer Satisfaction
The fact that research is being conducted on augmented reality and tourism has only one goal. We’re talking about customer satisfaction, and so far, the effects have been clearly positive:
- Travelers can learn more about the places they visit, and their understanding is improving of what they are experiencing
- We’re not just talking about comprehension but also about the connection of users with the site they are visiting. This makes them experience the trip with greater satisfaction by learning more about the visited site.
- Thanks to augmented accessibility for people with disabilities, new opportunities are opening up for more people. A clear example is audio descriptions for artworks or landscapes.
The mission is for the customer not only to be satisfied with the service they receive from tour operators. The goal is to build customer loyalty so that they continue to visit a place or go to a specific company.
Enriched Tourist Experiences with AR
In light of everything we’ve discussed, we can say that the way a journey is experienced is being enriched. This makes it very interesting to know how AR is being applied.
Immersing Travelers in New Realities
The interesting thing is to know how AR is generating changes in the experiences that tourists have. This can be explained through examples such as:
- The use of games and activities that add dynamism to a traveler’s experiences when visiting a site
- In museums, an appropriate environment can be created for visitors to understand the context of artworks
- Cities like New York are enhancing their tourist side by offering virtual reality guided tours
What is a reality is that travel is changing a lot thanks to innovations like virtual reality. As technology continues to advance, we will likely see new strategies for applying AR to this industry.
Case Studies
There are many cases where the use of augmented reality and tourism can be evidenced. Some of the most prominent ones include:
- At the National Museum of Natural History in the United States, an AR app has been designed for its visitors. They can learn more about the animals and objects on display.
- Also at Universal Studios Hollywood, strategies based on AR have been developed. Through their AR app, games have been designed that allow for a more entertaining visit.
- There are also immersive tours in New York City. One of the strategies that has caught attention is the use of AR to facilitate subway travel.
Depending on the location, the faculties of augmented reality can be adapted to tourism. Additionally, solutions for this sector are still being developed.
Developing AR Solutions for the Tourism Sector
Would you like to know a method for developing AR solutions for tourism? There are several ways to do it. The important thing is to look for an agency that offers you certain benefits to achieve it.
AR Services for Tour Operators
There are many services you can access by hiring an AR solutions agency. Some of the clearest examples include:
- Guided tours through augmented reality
- Development of activities through devices
- Integration of AR with VR
AR services for tour operators aim to improve revenue through a revolution. There are already many agencies and companies adopting these practices.
Integration of AR into Tour Packages
The main interest of many companies currently is the integration of AR into tour packages. Regarding this, some considerations should be taken:
- Always start with small changes to trial and error
- The main objective is the customer. Focus on what the user is experiencing.
- Choose reliable AR platforms and technology
And when it comes to augmented reality and tourism, there’s no better option than New Discovery Agency. Do you want to find the best AR technology solutions? We can advise you and provide real changes to your company.
Contact us now and discover the technology services we have for you.