Abstract
This research investigates whether the evolution of augmented reality contributes to the combination of specific and alternative forms of tourism in Greece. More specifically, in the first stage, information and communication technologies and the new emerging perspectives that appear over time are described. Then, talking about special and alternative forms of tourism, the authors talk about cultural, gastronomic, and educational tourism, elements of which intersect in the light of spatial augmented reality (SAR). The main purpose of the chapter is to prove that SAR excels in the synergy of the three forms of tourism mentioned. Also, a successful example of the development of SAR in the Greek tourist area is given, with the presentation of a case study of a museum in Greece. Finally, the benefits provided by the combination of special forms of tourism with SAR are presented, and it is concluded that all ages have the opportunity to actively participate in such projects using SAR, without the informal exclusion of older people.
TopIntroduction
Augmented Reality technology (hereinafter referred to as AR) has become more and more common in recent decades in various business sectors. This is due to the supply and demand of smartphones and tablets nowadays. On the other hand, the appearance of special and alternative forms of tourism is quite upward, due to the rapid development of tourism activity. As early as the beginning of the 21st century, organized mass tourism seems to be lagging behind and special and alternative forms of tourism are emerging. According to them, there is a special incentive in the demand of tourists (e.g., sports, culture) and the development of a special infrastructure in the tourist destinations, thus aiming at the best possible service of each special form (Kokkosis, Tsartas, Grimba, 2011). Tourists, in this type of tourism, seek their autonomy regarding matters of organization and conduct of the trip. But how do these two emerging 21st century trends really come together?
Guided by the latest technology and the interest of tourists in alternative tourism, museums are claiming their place in this new venture. It is, perhaps, the top choice of space to establish once and for all the combination of technology and special tourism. The research questions posed in this chapter are also the objectives of completing the research. More specifically, the questions are answered: H1: To what extent has SAR evolved in the Greek tourist area and in what other sectors is it found? H2: How can SAR reach older tourists, without restricting the age target group by giving opportunities to all interested parties? H3: Does the project of the Museum of Natural History resonate with the general public after the integration of SAR inside? And what are his next actions? The philosophy is also adopted that the user should be the protagonist of the discovery and not just an observer. This is one of the goals of SAR for culture, that is, users, from passive receivers to become active observers, to interact with what they see, to assemble the pieces of history and thus discover for themselves the sights of the space they visit.
Key Terms in this Chapter
ICT Integration in Museums: Is a new emerging trend, in which museums use the internet to display exhibits, as this offers multiple advantages in attracting interested visitors ( Papalexandri & Lymperopoulos, 2014 , pp. 289-291).
Special and Alternative Tourism: Is considered the set of integrated (or not) tourist services, which are addressed to a specialized public. They are based on mild and ecological activities, highlighting the natural resources of each area ( Polyzos, 2015 ).
Spatial Augmented Reality: Is called the technological variant of simple augmented reality. It is a projection system, in which the development of virtual environments is carried out through projection systems and not mobile devices ( Bimber & Raskar, 2019 ).