Virtually Visiting is a new digital platform that brings together travel and virtual reality to deliver a 360◦ video experience. Working with professional tour guides from 55 tour companies in 30 countries, a team of travel and virtual reality experts have developed a library of immersive 360° tours, with itineraries curated and led by the guides themselves. Programs range from city tours to kayaking adventures. Much like on a real-life tour, visitors can look around and focus on whatever catches their eye, while accompanied by their tour guide. The tours are an immersive, relaxed way to test out a variety of tours in a variety of countries without having to commit to a huge price tag.
To launch the program, Virtually Visiting is offering a free, innovative whistle-stop journey of eight countries in eight minutes. A free in-depth tour of India will introduce the platform’s full-length travels, with a new video going live each day following the launch.
“It’s our online, anytime version of ‘Around the World in Eighty Days,’” comments Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel and Virtually Visiting. “But here you can do the same in eight minutes,” he added.
Acknowledging the value and professionalism of the tour guides leading these new programs, all proceeds will be shared equally with the guides, similar to how guests would pay for the guides’ knowledge and expertise in real life.
Virtual travel has become highly desirable due to changing border restrictions and health concerns, filling in a void and a desire by people to see the world and enjoy new experiences. Cooper adds, “Virtually Visiting is a truly immersive experience. While watching, you feel like you are really there, spinning around trying to take everything in. You can watch each tour again and again because with a 360° virtual tour you can see something new every time.”
An extra benefit is that viewers are able to add journal entries and plan future real-life trips. Visitors will create a Virtual Passport where they collect stamps showing where they have traveled virtually, enabling them to revisit anytime while also providing access to free tours and tours for purchase.
Notes Cooper, “Virtual tourism is an exciting way for people to experience the world and something we believe will add to the richness of the travel industry and traveling community. We are not here to replace real travel but rather to provide a new, exciting way to merge the physical with digital technology while also supporting the travel industry.”
Tags: Virtually Visiting
