A new alternative in the field of tour guiding emerging after COVID-19: Online guided virtual tour

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate online guided virtual tours, which started to be massified for the first time with the COVID-19 pandemic, as an alternative in the context of the tour guiding profession and to address them in a holistic approach. The pandemic is known to have accelerated the pace of digitalization globally and transformed many professions. It is seen that tour guides, who are considered key stakeholders in the tourism sector, are also faced with new alternative practices in the face of this digitalization. Among these new applications, online guided virtual tours, which have become massive with the impact of global sharing platforms such as Airbnb and TripAdvisor, are considered an alternative in the tour guide profession. Considering that digital and virtual applications have become widespread in recent years and have the potential to grow gradually, the investigation of online guided virtual tours, which are predicted to create an important alternative in the field of tour guiding, is essential in terms of providing a perspective to the tour guiding profession and stakeholders. Online guided virtual tours should be used effectively in the pre-promotion of the touristic destination in terms of encouraging travel and positively affecting the tendency to visit on-site. In this conceptual study, an evaluation and some suggestions are given regarding the possible usage areas of these virtual tours in the field of tour guiding and their impact on the profession's future.