We have recently read an interesting article regarding VR’s ability to offer sustainable tourism through taking users to locations virtually instead of physically. We thought it would be beneficial to highlight this effective tool and its usability for a range of audiences.
Virtual School Trips
Initially developing out of necessity after the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual travel has become popular in a range of use cases. One of these use cases is for education. It is much more cost effective to virtually take a class of students to a location half-way around the world than actually put them on a plane there. Not only this, but it is also far more environmentally friendly as no carbon emissions are produced.
With the rise of VR tour creation apps such as ExpeditionsPro, classrooms across the world are now capitalising on the benefits of seeing breath-taking locations such as Mount Everest, the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu. Seeing these locations in immersive Virtual Reality is a far cry from simply viewing photographs of them in a textbook. Apps such as these offer increased information retention and learner enjoyability.
Additionally, students and teachers can also create their own tours completely free of charge. Documenting in-person school trips allows other classes to share their experiences and can be a fun and rewarding experience for students in and of itself.
The Future of Virtual Reality Tourism
As Virtual Reality technology evolves further, taking immersive field trips becomes more and more accessible. The amount of educators who follow the world of EduTech (educational technology) closely is increasing as they begin to realise the benefits of introducing new technologies into the classroom.
Outside of the classroom, applications such as these can be simply used for fun. The software is free and allows users to create their own tours using 360° cameras. Creating and viewing locations from all over the world that you haven’t been able to visit in person can be a rewarding and therapeutic experience.
Check out the original article here.
