There is a huge need of virtual tourism in Nepal now to keep the tourism alive in the Himalayan nation. We might have all heard about the virtual tourism and many might have also been familiar with it. Virtual tourism has been slowly growing in the tourism industry worldwide. Though it has not be categorized as one of the types of tourism but it has already made a mark in the industry. If go back and look at the recent past years, we can find that virtual tourism has made quite and impression in the global tourism industry.
Virtual tourism is a virtual reality if tours and when introduced at first it was taken as a marketing tool for different tourism sectors. Travel agents including airlines used to promote different locations and attractions through virtual reality to create an impression to their clients or tourist and make them dig for it. Virtual reality is still used by many tourism sectors as a part of their marketing tool for promotion. Now virtual reality has taken a form of virtual tourism and has been gradually growing in the tourism industry. I mean who does not want to travel anywhere they like just by sitting on their couch or sleeping on their bed. Though it might not give you the real taste of traveling physically but it is no less except for some parts. Now at the time of Covid-19 and pandemic, virtual tourism could play a huge role for the industry as a whole. Many countries around the globe have already been using virtual tourism during the time of pandemic. So Nepal with tourism being the major economic backbone of the nation should definitely head out for virtual tourism in the coming days.
Nepal should consider virtual tourism as one of the major part to keep tourism alive in the nation. Different sectors of the tourism industry of Nepal has been completely shut down for months now with billions of loss in the whole tourism sector of the nation.
Why virtual tourism could be the optimal solution in Nepal during the lockdown?
Virtual tourism actually is the virtual reality which is all about attractions. The Himalayan nation has plenty of landscapes, beautiful sceneries and many more to serve to the tourist through virtual reality. Simply put, Nepal has the ability to create an attractive virtual tourism package. Though it might not create a huge impact one the tourism of the nation but it will definitely play a part for the promotion of tourism activities and different attractions of Nepal in the global platform and most importantly it definitely contributes to keep the tourism alive in Nepal one way or another. Nepal can create several tour packages from the attractions that the nation holds as a part of virtual tourism. For example, every year thousands of tourist travel to Nepal for Mountain flight which is just roaming around the mountains and witnessing the high mountain peaks and ranges while inside the aircraft. It jus basically the tour of the mountains in the sky, checking out the beautiful views from the clouds from inside the aircraft. So this could be one of the best virtual tours if the exact scenes can be delivered through the virtual reality. Similarly there ate several other tours that can be made through virtual reality like trekking trails, the environment up above in the high mountains, the cultural tours, jatras and festival tours, heritage tours, arts and architectures and many more.
Virtual tourism is all about the visuals and sound effects that makes it as real as possible. While virtual tourism might not give all the thrills and chills that you get through the physical adventures and tours in Nepal but it will definitely be effective in the tourism of Nepal. Even it might not be as effective as planned, it will definitely create an impression to the tourists and will definitely promote different attractions of Nepal in the global platform which might turn into a great result in future. Apart from that, the other best thing about virtual tourism is that the virtual reality could go far beyond what tourism industry can physically deliver to the tourist. This is one of the most amazing thing about virtual reality, it can reach out to the places where tourist cannot reach physically. There are many interesting places and several amazing things in Nepal which can be delivered to tourist through virtual tourism. Maybe present something unique to tourists through virtual tourism that they have never seen in Nepal. We have seen many museums, art galleries, and other industries using virtual tourism as a primary source as their activities as well. So there are lots of positives of virtual tourism for the tourism industry of Nepal especially in the present context of Nepal.
The present situation of Nepal does not favour the restart of tourism anytime soon at all because the Covid-19 cases keeps on increasing and Government keeps on extending the lockdown as there is no any other option than that. Thamel, one of the major tourism hub of Kathmandu is empty and the owners of shops, and different owners are already looking to shut down their businesses in the coming days as the loan and rent bills are getting out of hands. We might see the permanent shut down of many travel agents, hotels, restaurants and cafes in the coming days if the situation goes on like this. Everything is in halt and the situation keeps on getting worse with no proper solution at all and all of this is taking tourism industry of Nepal to a deep sleep. So there is a huge need of virtual tourism in Nepal as of now. The concerned authorities like Nepal Tourism Board are planning for virtual tourism in Nepal in coming days. They are trying to find an optimal way to generate tourism at least inside the Kathmandu valley and also intends on creating virtual tours. It could be one of the optimal solution as now. It might not take tourism to the normal state but it will definitely be a much needed helping hand for the tourism industry of Nepal.
0 Comments