A virtual tour is a sequence of images stitched together to create an immersive virtual experience. It includes photos, videos, and narration, allowing viewers to explore locations remotely.
Benefits of Virtual Tours
Virtual tours assist in vacation rental and hotel booking decisions, increase property revenue by providing an immersive view of amenities, and help travelers prepare for upcoming trips by showcasing room features.
Creating custom tours offers control over content and presentation, with options for real-time interaction and varying costs.
Multidisciplinary teams can utilize tools like ThingLink’s Unity plugin to create virtual tours of building designs with added functionality.
Importance and Popularity of Virtual Tours
Virtual tours are essential for meeting customer demands, with around 70% of online users expecting them. They are a valuable tool for brands, particularly in incorporating "virtual reality" into marketing strategies.
Use of Virtual Tours in Real Estate
Virtual tours are increasingly used in real estate to showcase properties uniquely, reduce unqualified buyer showings, and enhance online presence. Realtors recognize the value of virtual tours as a crucial marketing tool.
The technical aspects of virtual tours include combining software, audio, video, images, and narration to provide immersive experiences. Users can interact with recorded or live presentations, creating virtual "travel" experiences from their homes.
Virtual Tours in the Absence of Physical Travel
Though virtual tours offer escapism during travel restrictions, they cannot replace physical experiences or discoveries while traveling. Despite their growing popularity, physical exploration retains its unique value.
While virtual tours offer benefits during the pandemic, they come with limitations such as a restricted sensory experience, lack of physical interaction, and reliance on technology that may cause eye strain.