Since the global pandemic forced a standstill on international travel, businesses across the globe have had to find novel ways to thrive. Here, companies like Virtual Tourism New Zealand and Method have utilized technology to allow tourists to explore the landscapes of our country from the comfort of their homes.
Virtual Tourism New Zealand, a company that launched just months before COVID-19, has managed to turn the unfortunate timing into an opportunity.
“We created our website to allow people wanting to book accommodation, experience historic buildings, museums, and such, to actually experience things for themselves,” says managing director Clint Lawson.
“And then when COVID hit, everything changed. We had to reinvent the wheel, and it’s been fantastic. From just doing a bit of accommodation, we’ve grown. People are wanting to look at historic buildings, they’re looking at our site and they’re saying: ‘hey, we can plan our trips here’.”
He also emphasised the stark difference between virtual videos and the virtual tours offered by his company. The virtual tours, he explained, allow viewers to virtually stand in and experience locations rather than merely watch passively. This immersive approach offers potential tourists a taste of the destination, leading to more informed decision-making.
On the other side of the spectrum is Method, a company with two decades of experience in creating immersive digital experiences. Sam Ramlu, managing director of Method, stressed the importance of balance and the value of enriching physical tourism experiences with digital enhancements.
“We’ve been working in this space for 20 years. New technologies have surfaced, and we’ve been embracing them. The physical nature of tourism is really important. It’s about enhancing that experience. How can we offer people value experiences for what they want to dive into?”
She says that traditional tourism often assumes one way for people to consume information. By incorporating technology into the tourism experience, companies like Method can cater to diverse consumer preferences, providing more in-depth information about historical places without overwhelming visitors with physical displays.
The great harmony between tourism and technology has transformed a challenging time into an era of innovation.
By creating more immersive and flexible experiences, companies like Virtual Tourism New Zealand and Method are redefining tourism, proving that it can not only survive a global pandemic but also evolve to become even more engaging and informative.
