Immersive technologies in tourism: potential and prospects for the development of the industry experience economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global economy digitalization, which has also affected the international tourism sector. The importance of the experience economy has been increasing in recent years due to the evolution of approaches to doing business, and the use of its tools seems relevant for the tourism sector because the main purpose of acquiring tourist services is to gain a unique experience. This article examines the role of modern technologies in the experience economy and the evolution of immersive technologies and analyzes the attitude of companies and consumers from the USA, Canada and the Russian Federation to virtual reality. The authors provide the benefits of the AR and gamification introduction on tourist routes and explore the possibility of using AR /VR («augmented reality»/«virtual reality») to make a final purchase decision and familiarize with the safety rules on the trip. The article also provides recommendations for AR/VRtours creation.

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