Holiday bookings to be ‘transformed’ by new technology, says Expedia
The holiday booking process will be ‘completely transformed’ through immersive vitual and augmented reality technologies, says Expedia.
In its latest The Holiday of the Future report, Expedia says increasingly customers will be able to ‘try before they buy’.
Rachael Power from Virtual Reality News, who contributed to the research, said: "Virtual reality has the potential to radically change travel.
"People can ‘try before they buy’ by visiting locations in VR, from the UAE to the Irish Wild Atlantic Way.
"It also shakes things up for those who are immobile or on smaller budgets; the view from Machu Picchu is now simply the cost of a Google Cardboard headset away."
Thomas Cook became one of the earliest pioneers of the virtual reality headsets for travel last year when it introduced Google cardboard headsets in five of its retail outlets.
Used with a mobile phone, the headsets gave users a 3-D view of its Red Sea Riviera brochure.
Expedia also envisions a future where content shared on social media will evolve from the standard snapshot into rich-media experiences.
"Virtual reality and 360 degree film technology will begin to reach the masses once brands invest in content for this medium," said its report.
Tourism Australia recently partnered with Expedia to launch a brand campaign using 360-degree video called ‘How Far’.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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