by With tourist industries contributing 7.6 trillion dollars to the world economy in 2016, and annual international tourist arrivals forecasted to reach 1.8 billion by 2030 (from 528 million in 2005 and 1.19 billion in 2015), demand for these industries is at an all-time high. Among the industries that will see the greatest opportunity in this expansion are those that operate within the more creative field of travel content. From old-fashioned travel writers to GoPro extreme sports videographers, the creative side of the travel industry will benefit from the Influx of tourism, no less than hotels and airlines. Especially when the rise of tourism is so well-timed with the 360/VR revolution.
In the same way that the popularization of VHS in the 1980s led to the production of travel video guides, immersive 360 and VR video have the potential to revolutionize the way vacationers plan their travels. The invention of photography and video was arguably more important for the proliferation of tourism than even the invention of air travel. What would airlines have capitalized upon if it wasn’t the wanderlust instilled by mass photography? In a similar way, 360 media capture will expand upon photography’s contribution to travel planning, by bringing us even closer to the places we want to go. Visually speaking, 360 allows you to show off your surroundings in a way that transcends the angular limitations of old-school photography. From the breathtaking geometry of the Sistine Chapel in Rome to incredible panoramic views from the top of El Castillo, 360 captures these moments in a way that no amount of video footage or photos could rival.
The relationship between tourism and technology has always been a relatively positive one, as an industry that depends upon quicker and more efficient means to connect people around the world, depends upon advancements in technology that decrease the gaps between different parts of the world. Social 360/VR is the best way to package these two concepts, the idea of travel tourism and immersive reality technology, into something palpable. Vresh is a platform that provides this and much more. Not only are we a place to discuss and view 360 content, but where you can share the places you’ve been in 360.
Moritz – Marketing and Strategy Assistant