Title of Paper
Exploring the Tourist Experience in Virtual Tourism
Abstract (150 Words)
Advanced technologies allowed us to experience destinations around the world without the physical act of traveling. Although some studies have researched virtual tourism, virtual tourism as a tourism activity has been rarely focused on. Many destinations adopted virtual tourism as an alternative, but it is not clear whether people perceive virtual tourism as an alternative. Thus, this research aims to explore the tourist experience in virtual tourism. A semi-structured interview was conducted after participants experienced virtual tourism in a laboratory. The study found that there is an absence of some stages of the tourist experience in virtual tourism, and this influences the quality of the experience. The tourist experience in virtual tourism was discussed according to existing knowledge about the tourist experience. This study suggested a future direction of virtual tourism.
Exploring the Tourist Experience in Virtual Tourism
Advanced technologies allowed us to experience destinations around the world without the physical act of traveling. Although some studies have researched virtual tourism, virtual tourism as a tourism activity has been rarely focused on. Many destinations adopted virtual tourism as an alternative, but it is not clear whether people perceive virtual tourism as an alternative. Thus, this research aims to explore the tourist experience in virtual tourism. A semi-structured interview was conducted after participants experienced virtual tourism in a laboratory. The study found that there is an absence of some stages of the tourist experience in virtual tourism, and this influences the quality of the experience. The tourist experience in virtual tourism was discussed according to existing knowledge about the tourist experience. This study suggested a future direction of virtual tourism.