The Virtual Safari: Why VR Isn’t Just for Gamers Anymore
When we think of travel, we usually mean passports, airplanes, and teeming streets. But lately—and especially in places like Singapore—virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are adding new chapters to the travel story. They are not here to replace travel; it is all about expanding it.
What’s New: Blending Reality with Virtual
You’ve probably heard of VR arcades or museums with interactive VR pieces—you might even have tried one. But the newer trend is blended experiences:
- AR-guided heritage trails: Like Merli’s Immersive Adventure—walk in Civic District & Chinatown, see virtual overlays showing what shophouses looked like, send virtual postcards, learn history through immersive storytelling. It's the kind of tour that makes you see old places in new ways.
- Full VR experiences: Escape rooms where you and your friends literally step into ancient Egypt, or spaceships, guided by VR headsets. In Singapore, Virtual Room in Chinatown is one such example.
Why VR Hooks You In (and Gets People Booking)
Being in VR or using AR hits more senses—sight, sound, motion: it’s immersive. Here are some things I’ve noticed:
- Presence: VR can make you feel like you're already there—in another time, place, or story. I once tried a VR escape adventure with friends; mid-mission, I forgot I was not really in a pyramid. That feeling of being transported can spark curiosity (“What else can I experience in person?”) or motivate a booking.
- Try Before You Travel: Sometimes people use virtual tours as a palate teaser—seeing what a place looks like, what the vibe is like—before committing. For people worried about travel costs, time, or accessibility, it lowers the barrier.
- Novelty + Social Shareability: VR/AR moments are great for stories & video clips, for social media. People see something cool in VR, share it, others want to try. So tourism operators even offer VR taster experiences to get people in the door.
- Accessibility & Inclusion: Those who cannot travel far (elderly, mobility-limited, or restricted by time) can still “visit” places, experience culture, heritage, nature virtually. This increases the accessibility of travel (in our opinion).
Things to Watch Out For
- Motion sickness or discomfort can be real for some users—good designers mitigate this.
- The quality of content matters: high-resolution visuals, good audio, storytelling. Cheap VR that looks “pixelated” or disjointed often falls flat.
- Hardware & setup logistics: headsets, clean spaces, good lighting, reliable internet for AR—all need careful planning.
Why It Matters in Post-Pandemic Travel
VR or AR travel experiences are not just tech novelties anymore—they are useful in a world where travel can be interrupted. Think:
- Virtual previews of Singapore before your trip so you can plan better.
- Hybrid tours where some participants join in person, others virtually.
- Travel agencies offering “VR trial” experiences to help people choose which in-person tour suits them best.
Photos are courtesy of tirachardz & STB
