How VR may bridge travel and business gaps

As the technology continues to improve we could see it go even further - the possibility that VR could evolve into a way for people to visit somewhere new without physically needing to travel - not to say that it would ever fully replace real travel, but it may serve as a limited option in times such as these.

The disruptions in travel brought about by the coronavirus may not be permanent but they could be a little longer lasting than many may expect - it has already been made clear that social distancing measures may remain in place until a vaccine is found which means temperature checks and masks will become a social norm for some time yet to come - some of these changes mean boarding delays in flights, reduced capacity in public transport, and also different expectations placed on those who are travelling - it has already been announced that some countries will be allowing international travel again in the near future, but it may not be the only answer to aid in the recovery of some struggling businesses as other alternatives are starting to find their way into the public eye.

One of these alternatives can be found in VR and advancements being made in the hardware and platform - not to say that VR could replace travel, but it may be a tool for businesses who rely on people coming together but may be unable to in such a large degree as social distancing remains in place - one such space that is seeing is within an area that many may not have expected - within the casino industry. Brick and mortar locations require a large group of people coming together, oftentimes using machines that others have used, touching cards and surfaces that others have used, and being in close proximity - this had already been pointed out as a cause for concern as Las Vegas is set to reopen casinos at a reduced capacity in some aspects which has led to the increase in mobile gaming, and whilst the typical credit card casinos are still popular, VR casinos with realistic looking tables and a social environment are also seeing huge growth too.

As the technology continues to improve we could see it go even further - the possibility that VR could evolve into a way for people to visit somewhere new without physically needing to travel - not to say that it would ever fully replace real travel, but it may serve as a limited option in times such as these. It has already been explored and used as AR and VR have been used in a limited capacity for travel experiences but larger practical uses have yet to be explored as the need hasn't been found. The technology is still being developed however, and is still quite young so there is a long way for VR to go, but there certainly is a lot of interest in making the platform work - we’re seeing some tech advances that will make a bigger difference too, such as 5G on mobile devices. The future of virtual reality is certainly on its way however, and the travel disruptions currently happening and that may happen in the future may be a space that the travel and tourism industry explores in future to provide different opportunities and different experiences to fit the needs of a growing market.