Back in time with immersive heritage tourism experience: a study of virtual reality in archaeological sites

Mujde Bideci*, Caglar Bideci

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This study focuses on how virtual reality applications might evoke nostalgic sensations in travellers during cultural heritage tourism. While extensive research on the tourism experience has revealed different extrinsic and intrinsic dynamics that affect the tourist experience, this research aims to explore what feeling of back in time VR users experience in an archaeological destination. The gap in visitor experience employing VR research still persists, despite the rising adoption rate of immersive technology, such as virtual reality. In this study, a qualitative method has been applied to analyse online reviews of VR users who visited the Olympia Archaeological Site in Greece and used the ‘Back in Time Olympia’ VR application. The findings drawn from the results show that nostalgia, presence, engagement by learning, and service experience are essential determinants of tourist VR experiences in such cultural heritage destinations.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInformation and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2023
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the ENTER 2023 eTourism Conference, January 18-20, 2023
EditorsBerta Ferrer-Rosell, David Massimo, Katerina Berezina
PublisherSpringer Cham
Pages312-317
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9783031257520
ISBN (Print)9783031257513
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Business and Economics
PublisherSpringer
ISSN (Print)2198-7246
ISSN (Electronic)2198-7254

Keywords

  • heritage tourism
  • tourist experience
  • virtual reality

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