Once the preserve of gamers, geeks and marketing agencies, VR has been given a new lease of life under lockdown. Let’s be clear: it’s never going to replace actual, physical travel in the real world. But as the technology gets better — the headsets more advanced and apps genuinely more immersive — and a new generation of tech-friendly gamers grow up into globetrotters, VR could become a standard part of the travel experience. Being able to step into a 3D space, be it a hotel room or museum, natural beauty spot or city street, isn’t only a useful tool at the planning stage, but a means to augment your experience on the road, and a way to relive it afterwards. VR also offers opportunities to explore with a lighter carbon footprint and, right now, while international travel remains limited, it caters to both those hungry for new horizons and travellers seeking a way to revisit favourite haunts.
Where should I start?
This story is from the June 2021 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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This story is from the June 2021 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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