Virtual Reality Travel Sees A Surge In Popularity

As people are stuck indoors as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, many are experiencing ‘Virtual Reality Tourism’. Would-be travelers are using virtual reality technology to take them to Machu Picchu or even Antarctica. VR travel company Ascape has seen app downloads double since the start of the year. For years VR has been used by travel companies to market locations, but now the tech is starting to shake its reputation as a gimmick. Meanwhile, experts are saying that virtual reality technology could be an eco-friendly solution to the problem of over-tourism. However, whether or not VR tourism will continue to see growth after the lockdown remains to be seen. VR video is usually seen through a headset which can be heavy, uncomfortable, and cause nausea if worn for a long time. Virtual Reality experiences tend to only last a few minutes and only focus on sounds and sights, without engaging other senses. There still remains a huge difference between experiencing something through virtual reality and actually visiting somewhere in person.