Review article
The Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality in the Promotion of Tourist Destinations in Northwestern Croatia
Ante Rončević
orcid.org/0000-0003-2527-9506
; University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
Marina Gregorić
; University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
Dajana Maria Horvat
orcid.org/0000-0003-2223-8442
; University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
Abstract
Promotion, as an element of the marketing mix, is essential because it represents communication between consumers and the company. Due to the high orientation of tourism in the Republic of Croatia on the coastline, continental tourism is considered to be neglected. This indicates low earnings from tourism in the continental part of the Republic of Croatia. The Northwest part of Croatia abounds with many destinations that are not promoted sufficiently and where their potential is not exploited. Most of the traffic routes that go to the sea area, and through which a large number of foreign tourists pass, extends through northwestern Croatia, but the phenomenon of highways is dragging tourists away from the wealth of tourist destinations offered by this part of Croatia. The new technology, virtual and augmented reality, is now represented in medicine, sports, the film industry and can be included in the promotion of tourism. It is possible to include virtual and augmented reality in the promotion of tourist destinations to attract a large number of tourists and to increase the attractiveness of specific destinations. The research paper aims to establish the willingness of tourist communities to invest in innovative promotional channels to attract potential tourists and attract them through new promotional channels. The methods used in the paper are the descriptive method, synthesis, analysis, and primary quantitative and qualitative research methods. The primary data were collected through a questionnaire and in-depth interviews with representatives of national tourist boards. In addition to tourist destinations, as those who work directly with tourists and tourist offer, it is necessary to engage other institutions, and primarily to involve the Ministry of Tourism to provide the support in the deployment of new technologies in tourism. Given the limited budget, and also the tremendous financial resources needed to deploy the virtual and augmented reality, EU funds from which it is possible to obtain non-refundable funds have a crucial role.
Keywords
augmented reality; Northwest Croatia; tourist board; tourist destination; virtual reality
Hrčak ID:
231673
URI
Publication date:
2.12.2019.
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