Design of a Virtual Tour as a Solution for Promoting the Tourism Sector in the Pandemic Period

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism sector. Tourism businesses must adapt to new conditions and rearrange their promotional strategies so that they can survive in the new normal era. Since the pandemic started spreading in early 2020, the Government has recommended a new promotional initiative for the tourism sector through the use of technology that can be accessed remotely via the internet. One of these approaches is the presentation of virtual tourism in various ways to strengthen the brand and promote tourism, for example, through virtual reality. The aim of this research was to increase tourist visits to Kajoetangan Heritage Village through applying technology to create a virtual tourism portal application, thereby raising the attractiveness of thematic village tourist destinations in Malang City. Using the virtual reality design as a form of marketing communication could be an alternative solution to tourism promotion during the pandemic. A Research and Development approach was used in this study in the following order: (1) conducting product analysis to be developed; (2) developing initial products; (3) expert validation and revision; (4) small-scale field trials and product revisions; (5) field trials and final product. The results from the field test showed that users can gain awareness about tourism activities through this virtual reality product, which can therefore be effective in supporting tourism promotion during the pandemic period.
 Keywords: virtual reality, COVID-19

Devising scientific and methodological tools to strengthen the economic security of a region through the improvement of technologies for marketing support of tourism

“…Such methods for the promotion of a tourist product as personal sales, including training, through public relations, are becoming relevant [53][54][55]. The suggestion that until recently would surprise potential clients of the tourism business -a virtual tourist trip -seems interesting [56]. However, given the complex epidemiological environment, the impact of which is felt not only by agents of the tourism business, this approach is able to provide a more effective (compared to traditional methods) spread of information about a tourist product.…”

Pelatihan Daring Pembuatan Video Perjalanan Virtual Berbahasa Inggris bagi Pemandu Wisata Tersertifikasi dari Berbagai Daerah di Indonesia

“…Beberapa artikel jurnal di bidang pariwisata pun telah mengulas penggunaan video perjalanan virtual sebagai alternatif wisata untuk masyarakat di tengah pandemi, sekaligus video promosi untuk wisata on-site ketika kondisi pandemi sudah membaik (I. Irwan & Novianti, 2021;Jagadtya & Aisyianita, 2020;Kinseng et al, 2022;Pahlevi et al, 2021;Rastati, 2020). Kinseng et al (2022) menyebutkan bahwa pandemi Covid-19 telah menstimulasi munculnya konsep pariwisata virtual di Indonesia yang sangat potensial untuk terus dikembangkan.…”

The Virtual Tour Guides on Tourists’ Satisfaction: Role of Sense of Presence

“…However, it was the most affected sectors globally by the pandemic that resulted to decrease number of tourist arrivals, revenue, and career opportunities. To cope up amidst the pandemic, as stated by Pahlevi et al (2021) The government introduced a new design of technology and developed procedures for adapting the new normal way of promoting the tourism industry. The key to promote the tourism industry amidst pandemic would be the adaptation of virtual tours using digital technologies.…”