Explore Your Holiday Destination In a Virtual World!
This month saw Gold Coast, Australia, host the Tourism Futures Conference.
That in itself might not interest Second Lifers, but the fact that a particularly prominent speech given mentioned worlds like Second Life™ as being integral in the future of tourism may grab your attention. Laura Papworth, who is a social network strategist, highlighted how virtual worlds and the related technology will effectively “make or break” tourist industry businesses. She anticipates a time in the not so distant future when we will be walking into a holiday resort in a virtual world, deciding we like it and speaking to a representative there and then to make our booking.
I agree, actually. I think that shopping and retail in general is headed in that direction. I’m no expert, like. I just like to think that one day I can do my grocery shopping in Second Life and have a shopping trolley (yes, that’s ‘trolley’ and not a ‘cart’) that travels at 100 miles per hour and sings the theme tune to Ghost Busters every time I drop something in it. Anyway, inside voice, Josue. Inside voice.
Moving on.
What I would suggest, however, is that they maybe use their own open sim style setups. Personally, if I walked into a virtual holiday resort that had anything vaguely resembling a welcome hub in world, I would be tempted to tell the rep that there is no way I will take my young son to a holiday resort where odd looking people run around with oversized and frankly bizarre looking penises on display over polka dot pants and screaming, “We do the sex?” Nor would I particularly care to go to a resort where I will be logged out, erm I mean, sent home, as soon as more than 80000 land in the country.
Anyway… you’ll have to excuse me. I have a Ghost Buster-esque shopping trolley to build.
Tags: holidays in second life, Second Life, second life holidays, virtual worlds tourism
Categories:
Second Life
