Written by Nima, 2021 Cohort
Over recent years, augmented reality has become increasingly popular within the travel industry. This is primarily because it enables hotels and other businesses operating in this field to enhance the physical environments, they are actually trying to encourage customers to visit, including local sights and hotel rooms. Modern customers are already in the habit of using their smartphones a lot, even when they travel, so the step towards using augmented reality apps on those phones is inevitable.
What is an AR portal?
In short, AR portals are doorways, windows, and portals that open entrances to new and exciting virtual worlds. Using augmented reality, people can place virtual portals in real-world locations, which they can walk through and be virtually transported into new dimensions.
In today’s modern world humans are constantly trying to find new levels of immersion and escapism, and it is this habit that makes AR portals an increasingly popular medium. Using their smartphones people can enter and explore whole worlds, all at the touch of a button. And the best bit: it doesn’t require the same complex or expensive equipment that Virtual Reality does.
With this in mind, it’s easy to see why the travel industry is particularly thriving under the influence of AR portals. Many tourist departments are now creating their own AR portals and opening virtual doors to famed countries and cities, in a bid to entice people and boost both tourism and their economy.
Since then, portals have been created that lead to the Eiffel Tower, the fictional world Hobbiton, and even The Moon.
Wherever these portals lead, they’re giving people the opportunity to experience places they otherwise wouldn’t be able to, strongly proving that with AR portals there is no limit to the imagination.