Immersive technology is set to offer the virtual tourism market a $20 billion opportunity with tourism boards and travel brands around the world already catching on to this digital revolution. 

This potential exists because of immersive technology and AI’s ability to create memorable, engaging, and ultra-personalized experiences that go way beyond the confines of traditional 2D media. 

Destination marketing, but 3D

One key use case of immersive technology for virtual tourism is in destination marketing. By using 3D experiences powered by AI, travel brands and tourism boards can give travelers a personalized feel for a place long before they arrive.

From immersive street walkthroughs to virtual hotel room tours, these experiences give users a taste of what they can expect in their upcoming trip which helps them plan smarter. When Radisson Hotels introduced virtual tours, they saw a 135% jump in online revenue. Living proof that 3D media offers a more engaging experience than traditional video.

Dubai, an Emirate known for being ahead of the curve, embraced immersive technology with their “Visit Dubai” campaign led by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The goal of the campaign was to encourage visitation to VR tours of iconic spots like the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Al Fahidi neighborhood.

With the average person consuming 303 minutes of travel content before booking, it’s vital that travel brands make the most of their marketing efforts. In a world where everyone is competing for attention, only the most engaging content will stand out.

Immersive 3D is proven to do just that.

Democratizing access to global destinations

Immersive technology isn’t just changing the way we try before we buy; it’s altering how we experience destinations and their culture, too. 

This is arguably the most important aspect of immersive technology. The ability to make global destinations accessible to everyone with a device and internet connection.

Thanks to immersive 3D, people can now tour museums, art galleries, and historical sites without leaving their homes. Using advanced 3D modeling with AR and VR, these experiences recreate real-world spaces in incredible detail, letting users walk through exhibits, zoom in on 3D artifacts, and learn from multimedia guides that bring stories to life.

One standout example is Tampere 1918. The experience immerses users in the Finnish Civil War through 360° scenes, interactive storytelling, and cinematic video. It’s not just a tour, it’s a powerful history lesson, elevated by immersive.

The value also goes beyond the experience itself. Digitizing cultural spaces protects heritage that might otherwise be lost to time or disaster. The University of Glasgow’s $7.5M ‘Museums in the Metaverse’ project did just that by bringing ancient relics into the 3D world, where they could be explored up close and preserved forever without any physical impact.

Immersive tourism is here to stay

In the end, immersive tech isn’t just a tech trend, it’s completely reshaping how we think and act around travel.

By blending real-time 3D, AI-powered personalization, and virtual environments, travelers can now explore new destinations, connect with different cultures, and visit far-off landmarks without having to worry about expectations, borders, or accessibility.

As the tech evolves, expect more tourism boards and travel brands to tap immersive tech and implement it into their marketing strategies.