Using WebXR Metaverse Platforms to Create Touristic Services and Cultural Promotion

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a surge of Metaverse applications and tools striving to capture the attention of both the general public and businesses, with a particularly strong potential within the tourism sector. However, there has been significant criticism towards major corporations for marketing a concept of the Metaverse that fails to align with reality. On the other hand, smaller entities such as Spatial-io, which is an innovative metaverse platform, are introducing a different style of the Metaverse, one that is highly accessible from contemporary devices like smartphones, tablets, VR headsets, and traditional PCs via WebXR platforms. This article delves into and scrutinizes various methodologies of a tourism-oriented Metaverse, considering its prospective utility as a vehicle to attract more visitors. A virtual tourist information center was established on the Spatial-io Metaverse platform to promote Valencia, Spain. This research scrutinizes the navigation, accessibility, and usability of the service from a conventional PC browser, contrasting it with the experience offered by the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset. The study’s quantitative and qualitative data analysis indicates that these innovative services are highly regarded, particularly when a real person (not a bot) provides information, fostering trust and offering details about various tourist attractions within the promoted city. The comparison of user inquiries’ time and depth aligns with the immersion level, demonstrating more positive feedback when the service is accessed through the VR system rather than a standard PC browser.