Unomiru’s Post

🖐 New Publication Alert! 🚀 I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest chapter in the book Sustainable Travel Experiences: Insights and Innovations, titled "Empathy and Social Connection: The Heart of Sustainable Travel Experiences". 🌿💡 In this chapter, I dive into the critical role of empathy and social connections in fostering sustainable tourism. By exploring both cognitive and affective empathy, I analyse how these elements enhance cultural integrity and promote economic sustainability in tourism. I also discuss the integration of digital technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in enriching travel experiences. 🌍✨ 📊 Key topics include: - The role of empathy in sustainable tourism practices - Enhancing social connections in travel experiences - The benefits and challenges of using VR and AR in tourism - Practical case studies and policy recommendations for the industry I encourage all professionals and academics in the tourism field to read and share your thoughts on the future of empathy-driven sustainable travel! 👥💬 🔗 Access the chapter here: DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-3150-7.ch003 #SustainableTourism #EmpathyInTourism #CulturalConnection #IPCA #DigitalInnovation #VRinTourism #ARinTourism #AcademicPublications

I wanted to share with you some of the exciting projects and research I've undertaken during my Master's studies at Aalborg University in Copenhagen! The past two years have been an incredible journey filled with learning, innovation, and real-world applications. 💠 VR Travel for Seniors: Conducted groundbreaking research on seniors' perceptions of VR as a travel experience. We received a grant from The Obel Family Foundation, traveled to Iceland, and tested VR experiences with local seniors. Key findings revealed a positive attitude towards VR, with varying responses influenced by age, gender, and prior tech use. 💠 Tourist Guides in Iceland: Explored sustainability practices among tour guides and debated the need for legal protection of the profession. 💠 Innovation Project: Collaborated with the Aalborg innovation team to pitch "Too Good Not To Go"—an app to swap, sell, and buy event tickets, tackling the issue of no-shows and empty seats in the service industry. 💠 Egeskov Castle Project: Developed a business proposal to attract more visitors to this historic site in Fyn, applying our learnings in tourism destination analysis. 💠 Sustainable Travel Research: Investigated how travelers define and practice sustainability, revealing a preference for environmental over economic sustainability and differences between home and travel practices. We also learned how to make sustainable business models, what sustainability means in tourism, and delved into Tourism Policy and Destination Governance in Prague. Additionally, we walked around Fiskerihavnen, analyzing spaces of consumption and interviewing locals and visitors. These projects show just a glimpse of my enriching experience. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds! #Master #Tourism #Sustainability #touristGuides #Iceland #VRResearch #Innovation

Step into the future of travel with digital tourism! From immersive VR tours to AI-powered assistance, potential destinations like Egypt are exploring new ways to blend culture with modern technology. The journey begins before you even book. #ThinkMarketing

Virtual Reality: A Pathway to Responsible Tourism Incorporating virtual reality into tourism presents a strategic approach to fostering responsible and sustainable travel. Hotels can use VR to vividly depict their locales, providing an immersive experience that prompts travelers to consider the ecological consequences of their journeys. Virtual experiences can also highlight less frequented destinations, spreading tourist activity more evenly and mitigating the strain on popular attractions. This strategy not only promotes sustainable travel practices but also enriches the guest experience with unique virtual explorations. By adopting VR, hotels can pave the way for a more environmentally conscious future in the tourism sector. Promoting Eco-Friendly Practices Through Virtual Reality Hotels are utilizing virtual reality to effectively communicate their sustainability efforts to guests. Through VR experiences, visitors can witness the hotel’s eco-friendly practices, such as energy-efficient infrastructure, comprehensive waste management systems, and the use of sustainably sourced materials. This interactive method of showcasing green initiatives deepens guest understanding and appreciation of sustainable tourism. Furthermore, VR can simulate excursions to natural and cultural sites, offering an engaging way to learn about local environments without physical disturbance. By reducing the need for in-person tours, VR helps protect fragile ecosystems and cultural landmarks from the impacts of mass tourism. Special thanks to my dear professor Alessandro Zucconi #VR #Virtual_reality #digital_Tourism #Tourism

🌍✨ Revolutionising tourism: Virtual Experiences in the Era of Museum 4.0 Tourism has always been about exploration and connection, but the 21st century has brought a radical shift: virtual tourism. With technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 360° videos, museums are redefining accessibility and user engagement, creating experiences that transcend traditional travel barriers. 📜 The Origin of Tourism The term tourism has an intriguing history. First coined in 1811, it derives from the Greek word tornos, symbolising the cyclical nature of travel—journeys that often return to their starting point. This reflects humanity’s enduring desire for exploration, from spiritual pilgrimages to the leisurely Grand Tours of 18th-century aristocrats. 💡 Why Virtual Tourism Matters Global accessibility: platforms like the Smithsonian’s virtual tours let visitors explore exhibits from anywhere, eliminating physical, financial, and geographical constraints (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 2021). Inclusivity: these technologies adapt to different languages and cultures, making cultural heritage accessible to diverse audiences . Sustainability: virtual visits reduce strain on fragile artefacts and historic sites, promoting conservation while opening new revenue streams through digital content and merchandise . 🎯 The Role of marketing and data The success of virtual tourism hinges on effective strategies: Social media: campaigns on Instagram and Facebook increase visibility and engagement. Data analytics: insights into visitor preferences allow museums to tailor experiences, ensuring relevance and personalisation . 📢 A Call to Action Museum 4.0 demonstrates how cultural heritage and digital innovation converge to create inclusive, personalised, and sustainable experiences. With virtual tourism, museums extend their reach, ensuring their relevance in the digital age while maintaining their role as stewards of human history. 👉 How do you see virtual tourism shaping the future of cultural exploration? #VirtualTourism #MuseumInnovation #CulturalHeritage #CulturalHistoryBites

#📌Metaverse and Virtual Reality Travel Agencies ✈️The travel industry has been going through a big change with technology lately. Almost every travel business is trying to use digital solutions to make things better for tourists. ✨One interesting idea gaining popularity is the Metaverse in travel. This is catching the attention of tech fans, travelers, and businesses. The global pandemic has also made virtual travel more interesting. 🤳Travelling remotely One of the biggest impacts of the Metaverse on the travel industry is the ability to experience virtual tours and travel to virtual destinations. This will be a huge deal, especially for those who may not be able to visit them in real life. 🔮With virtual reality technology and 3D modelling in the Metaverse, users can explore famous landmarks and tourist destinations from around the world without ever leaving their homes. 🌃Planning and booking a trip: Imagine planning a trip without any added stress. With virtual reality technology, you could preview a hotel or vacation rental in an immersive environment so you know exactly what you’re paying for. You could also take virtual tours of different cities and neighbourhoods you’re planning to visit for a smoother itinerary plan. 🗼An immersive vacation: The Metaverse could also change the way we interact with our environment when on holiday. While visiting a new country is exciting enough, the Metaverse can enhance this experience for a more memorable vacation. Imagine immersing yourself in a virtual jungle or an underwater adventure, or even exploring Mars's surface — the potential of the Metaverse is endless. 🧑💻Business travel: Travelling for business constantly can be a chore to some but with the Metaverse, virtual conferences, meetings and trade shows are all possible. Not only do business travellers save on costs, it also increases the efficiency of work dealings for companies.

Ever since the pandemic and everyone having to stay on lockdown, people are ready to get back out there and travel. They want to make the absolute most out of their tourism and are willing to embrace technology to help them do so. AR is ready to take advantage. In Forbes, Nick Cherukuri makes some excellent points about AR’s impact on tourism. An example he makes is that “AR can enhance the existing environment by adding information or interactive elements, such as historical facts about a monument or directions to nearby attractions, without removing the user from the real-world experience.” There’s also a misconception that AR technology is only for the wealthiest travelers. Not the case! It’s becoming far more accessible and can produce some truly engaging experiences for people on their trips. #AR #Technology #Tourism

How is Augmented Reality already helping tourists and tourism destinations enhance their experiences? And how will this develop in the future? This final video in my three part series shows how venues are already benefitting from offering their visitors useful and entertaining AR - and how this is already showing signs of becoming ubiquitous in the future. SITE Network and Parallel Worlds, Inc. have got together to offer the tourism sector a combination of XR experiences like Augmented and Virtual Reality to connect the digital to the physical world. Check the comments below for links to the other videos in this series. Massive kudos to @Video Usher for creating this excellent rundown of the possibilities of #AugmentedReality in #tourism and #hospitality

#📌Metaverse Tourism: Virtual Travel Experiences 🏞️Virtual travel experiences within the metaverse offer immersive opportunities for individuals to explore destinations, historical sites, and fantasy worlds from the comfort of their own homes. 🧑💻Users can interact with virtual environments, engage with other avatars, and participate in activities such as virtual tours, cultural experiences, and even attend events and concerts. This form of tourism provides accessibility to individuals who may not have the means or ability to travel in the physical world, while also offering a new level of creativity and exploration through digital platforms. 🏖️Users can embark on virtual tours of real-world destinations such as museums, landmarks, and historical sites. These tours often utilize 360-degree imagery, allowing participants to navigate and explore the environment at their own pace. Some platforms also offer guided tours with audio commentary, providing educational insights and historical context. 👥One of the key aspects of metaverse tourism is the ability to interact with other users in virtual environments. Users can meet and socialize with people from around the world, forming friendships and connections regardless of physical distance. This social aspect adds depth to the virtual travel experience, enhancing engagement and collaboration.

Revolutionizing Travel: The Power of Augmented Reality 🌐 In the rapidly evolving travel industry, Augmented Reality (AR) sets a new standard for how tourists interact with their destinations. Here’s how AR is transforming the travel experience: #augmentedreality #traveltrends #hospitalityindustry #travelindustry #tourismindustry #hotelindustry #imex #itbberlin #airlineindustry #armarketing