A growing number of countries are utilising virtual reality (VR) as a means to attract tourists. This new marketing trend aims to provide a virtual experience of cities to compel visitors to see the real thing.
Bhutan creates ‘Bhutanverse’
Bhutan has unveiled the ‘Bhutanverse’, a virtual reality experience of the country on the Sandbox metaverse gaming platform to immerse prospective visitors in the kingdom’s unique history, rich culture and landscapes.
Launched in honour of the Bhutanese King’s 44th birthday, Bhutanverse features picturesque environments showcasing Bhutanese motifs, art and architecture.
Users can explore a variety of interactive mini-games and quests based on the country’s local folklore.
The experience was developed and created by Druk Holding & Investments, the commercial arm of the Bhutanese government, in collaboration with Smobler, a multimedia design agency, and Sandbox.
During the development stage, the project devised an open design challenge, inviting local artists, creators and innovators to collaborate on the creative design of the virtual Bhutan.
Tokyo’s tourist metaverse
Tokyo has launched the ‘HELLO! TOKYO FRIENDS’, initiative, combining a Roblox-based metaverse experience with an augmented reality (AR) app to market tourism in the city.
This project, spearheaded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, aims to tap into the growing popularity of virtual worlds and AR technology to attract a new generation of tech-savvy tourists.
The metaverse world on the gaming and social platform Roblox is an interactive virtual cityscape of Tokyo called MODERN TOKYO. Users can explore iconic landmarks, participate in treasure hunts, play mini-games and even make friends with other players from around the globe – “the perfect way to prepare for your trip to Tokyo,” said the group.
HELLO! TOKYO FRIENDS goes beyond sightseeing by incorporating cultural elements. The metaverse world features trivia games about sushi and other Japanese traditions, while the app provides detailed information about real-world attractions.
