Will VR make the travel industry redundant?
Virtual Reality is a hot topic at the moment, and particularly so within the travel industry.
It is already playing an increasingly popular part in the industry with virtual reality headsets allowing customers to experience 360° views of hotel rooms and holiday resorts.
As virtual reality technology continues to develop and take on a bigger role, the question arises – could VR ever replace real-life travel?
If customers are able to don virtual headsets and step straight into a destination, would the inclination to hop on a plane, train or automobile be lost?
It comes as more data recently claimed Aussies were quite comfortable with simply customer service queries handled by bots.
“Virtual reality can certainly help to enhance the travel experience at the pre-booking stage, however we don’t believe it could ever replace it entirely,” owner and Director of Italy4Real, Rem Malloy, said.
A global survey, conducted by European tour specialists Italy4Real, involved over 1000 adults, assessed the role of artificial intelligence within the travel industry and gather opinion on whether jobs within the industry could be replaced by automation.
Over half of respondents (52 per cent) said they believed the role of travel agent could be replaced by artificial intelligence, as they already use a computer to book their holidays.
However, the roles of tour guide and hotel staff look set to remain safe.
A substantial 67 per cent of respondents said they did not feel the role of tour guide could be replaced by AI, as a machine couldn’t include spontaneous facts and engage with the group.
The same percentage also said the role of hotel staff could not be replaced by AI as it needs a personal touch. However, 41 per cent said the hotel role which could most easily be replaced by artificial intelligence is that of receptionist.
“We were [also] interested to see that 67 per cent of respondents feel the role of tour guide could not be replaced by artificial intelligence.
“At Italy4Real our expert local tour guides are a crucial part of our services, and we intend to keep that personal touch,” Malloy added.
The survey also found that while 46 per cent said they would invest in a virtual reality travel experience headset, a whopping 81 per cent said they did not believe virtual reality could ever replace the desire for real-life travel.
Thankfully, 92 per cent also stated that visiting a destination via a virtual reality headset would not count as actually having been there.
However, respondents did offer up some potential advantages of virtual reality travel, with 77 per cent stating it would be a good option if you’re not physically capable of travelling. Other advantages of VR travel included being able to go ‘wherever you want, whenever you want’, and it being cheaper in the long-term than multiple trips.
The survey shows that while people express an interest in using virtual reality it is not something they believe can take over from real-life experiences, as nothing can truly compare to that authentic travel experience.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
-
Latest comments
Latest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.
….did online shopping kill retailers?… well,… my point is -stop the war and work together…
Did video kill the radio star? Did VCRs destroy the film industry? Did digital end newspaper travel? All simple answers – NO.
Will VR make travel redundant? Another simple answer – NO.