Covid-19 and the chance for virtual reality in tourism
Hello everyone !
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is being heavily affected due to the need to social distancing. This result in the plummeted travel demand, the downfall of many tourism-related business and hundreds of jobs lost.
However, in my perspective, this pandemic can be the chance for the development of a new kind of travelling, that is virtual tourism.
In the short run, this help people to go sightseeing around the globe without having to leave their houses. This will benefit not only the customer, but also the distributors, and especially the environment, as it gives time for recovery.
In the long run, virtual tourism is the key to reduce the strain of tourism on the environment. If the virtual reality technology got more advanced and more interactive, then people would be more likely to choose this low-cost alternative. This would result in decreased carbon emission ( from transportation such as planes, cars, trains, … ) and less stress on the tourists destinations.
If you are interested, this article explains more details on the topic :
https://www.forbes.com/sites/solrogers/2020/03/18/virtual-reality-and-tourism-whats-already-happening-is-it-the-future/#7bda6bd328a6
Dear Doan, I agree with you to a very far extent. Big changes, big opportunities, also to fight against overtourism - but also big risks:
Many people are already addicted to mobile internet. This is changing communicational culture, and also culture of behaviour.. I am not so sure if I want to live in a world full of "Smombies" = Smartphone-Zombies... But this is the challenge with every new technology. We have to cultivate it...
Another thing is the ecological consequence. I am afraid it is not that shiny as most people think. Certainly, to stream a virtual visit needs much less energy than flying there. But the emerge of streaming brings also the need for electrical energy to an explosion. Up to now, this is still produced, to a very lage extent, by burning coal... Not so much contribution to save the climate...
Thanks, bye, Harry
Ceterum censeo mutationem climae esse vincendem.
(Incidentally, I think that global warming must be defeated)
Prof. (FH) Mag. Mag. Dr. Harald A. Friedl
Assoc. Professor for Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism
Institute for Health and Tourism Management
FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Austria
Phone office +43-316/5453-6725
Phone mobil: +43-699/191.44.250
eMail: harald.friedl@fh-joanneum.at
Web: www.fh-joanneum.at/GMT
Dear Doan, I would agree that the Corona situation will probably force all other industries to digitalize their business, but we have to consider one question: Are people ready to accept virtual tourism. Honestly, from my perspective, traveling was the only way to escape from real-life, obligations, work, etc. and I wouldn't accept to travel virtually. Anyway, it´s my personal point of view and some people would probably be fine with it.
Bye,
Adis
Adis Krdzalic
FH Joanneum
Institut für Bank und Versicherungswirtschaft
Dear friends, I would go even further:
Is the boost for digitalisation really such a positiv impact by reduction emissions. Certainly, some flights might be saved, but in the same time,
- virtual travelling will even more stimulate desires for exotic destinations
- and the boost of all those digital networks and streaming services are needing enourmously mounts of energy, about which all those apologetes for digitalisation are not talking at all...
This fits very well to the little survey (one question), initiated by Adis (THANKS!) about how the Corona-crisis will influence the general environmental behaviour after the end of the crisis.
Please give your short vote here:
Thanks, Harry
Ceterum censeo mutationem climae esse vincendem.
(Incidentally, I think that global warming must be defeated)
Prof. (FH) Mag. Mag. Dr. Harald A. Friedl
Assoc. Professor for Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism
Institute for Health and Tourism Management
FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Austria
Phone office +43-316/5453-6725
Phone mobil: +43-699/191.44.250
eMail: harald.friedl@fh-joanneum.at
Web: www.fh-joanneum.at/GMT