New types of visit – virtual tours, virtual walks or online tours?
2020 is here. One of the biggest turning points not only in world tourism, but also in our lives in general. A single moment stopped us all, planes landed, buses parked, trains stopped and all passengers stayed at home. Waiting for everything to finally start and hoping things would get better next month, there wasn’t much to do. I realized that things weren’t going to start that quickly, and that we simply had to adapt to the new situation.
The idea was born!
In 2018, I started this blog where I wrote about the beauties of Dubrovnik, visits and travels throughout Croatia and the whole region of former Yugoslavia. As the blog grew, I decided to make a video about Dubrovnik and entrusted the recording to my dear colleague Nino.
Nino Knezevic is a passionate photographer born in Dubrovnik. He has been involved in photography for many years. He mainly photographs couples and weddings, and for both of us, this was our first project like this. Just as my hobby became a profession (guiding), he has built a successful business from a hobby. https://ninoknezevic. com/
Nino Knezevic, photo grapheur ninoknezevic.com
Containment – but what is it?
After a few days of shooting, the first surprise arrived: the whole world was talking about an infamous virus that cannot be tamed. We sat down in a café in the small bay of Kolorina, had coffee and laughed that none of this would happen. The next thing that happened was the first containment. We didn’t want to miss the opportunity to film Dubrovnik completely empty. So we sent requests to various Dubrovnik museums and got permission to shoot. The lockdown was lifted, and things got off to a slow start, but it wasn’t enough… and then we came up with the idea of recording virtual tours!
In the 21st century, we all spend a lot of time surfing the Internet, everything can be found, from travel tips and photos to various virtual tours, and we decided to record the same about Dubrovnik.
Hello and welcome to the Dubrovnik virtual tour!
The decision was made – let’s go! Nino grabbed the equipment, I gathered my courage and we started shooting. They looked at us strangely at first, but soon got used to the two of us and the camera on Stradun. We filmed not only the Dubrovnik tour, but also the Game of Thrones tour, because that’s what our guests showed the most interest in. Both tours are available on Instagram.
There was a lot of laughter and nervousness at first. No matter how much time I spend speaking in public and at public appearances, it’s never easy to hear my own voice. It’s like it’s someone else. Normally, we’re the most critical of ourselves, so at first I was looking for the slightest mistake. Then that passed and I realized how much love I was conveying for Dubrovnik in my stories. With so much love and warmth, only a true lover of his city and his profession can!
Vesna, the local guide
Which type of virtual tour to choose – virtual tours, virtual walks or live visits?
The virtual tour
A virtual tour is a simulation of an existing location, usually consisting of a sequence of videos or still images. It can also use other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration and text. It differs from the use of live television to affect tele-tourism.
The origin of the term “virtual tour” dates back to 1994. The first example of a virtual tour was an interpretive tour for museum visitors, consisting of a “virtual tour” of a 3D reconstruction of Dudley Castle in England as it looked in 1550.
“Virtuel Tour, being a cross between virtual reality and the royal tour. “
One of the first users of a virtual tour was Queen Elizabeth II, when she officially opened the visitor center in June 1994. Because the Queen’s officials had requested titles, descriptions and instructions of all activities, the system was named and described as: “Virtuel Tour, being a cross between virtual reality and the royal tour. “
Virtual tours are widely used in universities and in the real estate and hospitality industries. Virtual tours can enable a user to visualize an environment online. Currently, various industries are using this technology to market their services and products. In recent years, the quality and accessibility of virtual tours have improved considerably, with some websites allowing the user to navigate tours by clicking on maps or integrated floor plans.
Online tour – Dubrovnik’s city walls
The virtual walking tour
Virtual walking tour videos are documentary films shot as the camera moves continuously through an urban or natural area. The effect is to allow viewers to experience the sights they would see and sounds they would hear if they were actually traveling along a particular route at the same pace as the camera. Virtual walks based on real-world photography do not generally require the use of virtual reality goggles or headsets of the type used by gamers.
By realistically simulating the experience of moving through space, virtual walks – or virtual runs or bike rides – differ from conventional travel videos, which typically consist of a sequence of mainly static camera set-ups along a particular route or in a given area. The advantage of conventional travel videos is that one or more on-screen narrators or guides can provide information on the geographical, historical, political, military, cultural, geological or architectural aspects of the region.
Virtual walks appeal to those who want to experience the sights and sounds of places around the country or the world, but may not have the time or the financial or physical resources to get there. They also appeal to treadmill and elliptical users, for whom walking or running while watching these videos enhances the reality of the experience (and, at the very least, reduces the boredom of exercise).
Online tour – private or group tour?
Online tour – can be explained more simply as a regular walking tour that you watch from the comfort of your own home… All you have to do is reserve your place on the tour you choose and the guide will send you a link to join the group. Tours can be guided through any app that allows group participation in conversations. All that matters is that you have it installed on your smartphone or other device.
A walking tour is a visit to a historical or cultural site made on foot, often in an urban setting. Short tours can last less than an hour, while longer ones can cover several sites and last a full day or more. A walk may be led by a tour guide, as an escort.
Game of Thrones tour filming
A walking tour is generally distinguished from an escorted tour by its duration and the use of tour guides, and can last less than 12 hours or a week or more. They are led by guides who are familiar with the sites, or landscape, covered on the tour, and site explanations and interpretations can cover a range of topics, including places of historical, cultural and artistic significance. Walking tours, of all kinds and lengths, are part of the tourism industry and can be found all over the world.
The difference between online visits
Online tours can be the same as regular walking tours, group or individual. Live group walking tours are pre-announced for a specific day and time. They are often limited to the number of participants and consist of a large number of people who are not interconnected.
Live private tours are live walks around a certain area for you and your friends. On private tours, you can also participate as a spectator, chatting with a guide and asking questions about topics that interest you in relation to the area being visited. With this type of tour, the approach is individualized.
With our tours, we want to bring you closer to Dubrovnik and its surroundings, and get you interested in visiting our city.
Source: Wikipedia.fr