As the cool breeze of Salalah stands in stark contrast to the searing heat in northern Oman, many across the country are opting to spend a few days in the lush verdant beauty of Dhofar. But not all of us have the luxury of time to spend away from home and responsibilities.
That should not be disappointing as we can now travel digitally to any place of our choice from the comfort of our homes, and become wiser for it.
The travel industry jumped to unprecedented heights after the Covid pandemic. In fact, data around tourism shows that there has been a rise in leisure travel around the world by 69 per cent, according to Forbes. This is true for the luxury, cruise, and even backpacking travel – no form has been spared from the gush of tourists.
But what has also risen, along with physical travellers, is showcasing travel by digital content creators. In fact, more than 60 per cent of travellers aim to convert their experiences into some form of online content, with Instagram and Pinterest being the most popular platforms.
These vloggers offer much more than sales of package tours and local restaurant recommendations. Good sites focus on historical and archaeological sites, unique cultural practices, and even long forgotten ingredients and recipes. There is something for everyone in the digital travel space.
If a picture paints a thousand words, imagine what a short series of pictures in a video form would do. There is practically nothing that cannot be learnt from a good quality travel vlog. They make us visualise a place, customs, traditions and lifestyles in a way that would be almost physically impossible for most us.
From watching the northern lights to cruising with penguins in Antarctica, travel vloggers take us anywhere we want. But it is more than just the voyage itself – we also get immersed in the storytelling, the depth and quality of the experiences shared, as well as the immense opportunities it opens for us to read and learn more about a particular place or experience.
The digital travel industry has also got converted into gaming, with digital avatars replacing real people. This also allows gamers to take on any personality they like to explore the world, in fact, at any historical time of their choosing.
Interactive travel diaries using avatars have also become very popular as they have faster narration, better representation as well as more engaging modes of storytelling. Artificial Intelligence is only making these formats easier to produce.
Of course, all this can potentially turn into income generation, with successful travel vloggers earning well through commercial deals, brand endorsements as well as travel associated product promotions. Attractive as this may sound, it is a time consuming commitment to convert a passion for travel into a career. Definitely not for the faint hearted.
Meanwhile, as we continue to scroll through 30-second reels of random products and trivia, it is also a good opportunity to discover new and interesting places around the world. Maybe one such place could become a physical destination soon.
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