By Rafiq Vayani
KUALA LUMPUR: As tourism players find a way to stay afloat, travel tech platform LokaLocal is using virtual reality technology to transform the way people discover destinations in Malaysia.
LokaLocal’s virtual tours provide 360-degree interactive experiences to inspire globetrotters to visit Malaysia when travel restrictions are lifted. Integrated with stories, videos, audio and other elements, the public can learn more about the country’s beauty from any device, wherever they are in the world.
Chin Yoon Khen, CEO of LokaLocal, explained, “We’re empowering businesses who want to take their stories and marketing message to a new dimension. Going virtual facilitates content discovery for venues and activities, while boosting engagement and providing real value.”
“Our virtual reality solution also extends beyond tourism, as it can pave the way for any sector looking to innovate their digital experience, including real estate, e-shopping malls, and theme park attractions.”
Currently, the platform creates virtual tours for hotels, resorts, property developers, museums, e-commerce, educational institutions, and travel attractions. The customised virtual experiences can be integrated with their booking system, and used to run guided online tours and manage leads.
Since the commencement of the platform’s virtual reality division, the Mah Meri Cultural Village now has a virtual tour so visitors can have a glimpse of the indigenous heritage centre. Virtual tours have also enabled hotels like The Edison George Town and KLoe Hotel to showcase the unique features of the leisure spaces.
Among others, LokaLocal has worked with property developers like Gamuda to present their real estate offerings at Rymba Gardens, as well as luxury ateliers like Timeless Design to complement their online platform.
This digital initiative aims to build the foundation for recovery amidst the slow rebound of tourism in Malaysia. According to Prime Minister Tan Sir Muhyiddin Yassin, the heavily affected tourism sector in Malaysia will take four years to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
LokaLocal has also been certified as a Google Street View Photographer, and is able to help organisations enhance their search results and online presence.
The try-before-you-buy capability of virtual tours enables global travellers to make better decisions when booking their future vacation in Malaysia.
To learn more about virtual reality technology in travel industry and beyond, visit the LokaLocal page at: https://lokalocal.com/virtual-reality
