The German National Tourist Board, have released a mixed reality app called ‘UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany’, opting for a contemporary mixed reality project to showcase the strengths of this new technology and inspire customers. The app aims to present the diversity of Germany as a cultural travel destination internationally, using the example of its 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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The app is used worldwide at many events organised by our representatives and their partners, by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites network and by third parties. It is also available for free download from the Meta App Store (simply enter ‘UNESCO’ in the App Store search field). The next distribution channel we are planning is in-flight entertainment on aeroplanes.

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Content/features

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Customers select a World Heritage Site using an interactive ring around a map of Germany. Then they turn around, walk through a futuristic portal and find themselves standing in a 360-degree panorama. There, they can look around and walk around. They receive information about the respective World Heritage Site (text or voice), can answer quiz questions or switch to another panorama. When users complete all the tasks within a panorama, they receive a badge.

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The app includes several features: a travel diary, a quiz and the option to meet up with several friends (as avatars) live. Next to the single user mode the multi-user mode allows several users to meet in the app regardless of their location and experience the UNESCO World Heritage Sites together.

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Feedback from event guests has been extremely positive, and users have also given the app top marks in the App Store. Both at events and among home users, the amount of time spent in the app is much higher than with other advertising measures. At events, users spend an average of 5-20 minutes using the app. Home users even use the app for an average of 20-30 minutes per session. During this time, they devote their attention exclusively to interactive content about Germany as a travel destination. We cannot achieve such an intense, emotional and long-lasting focus on our content with any other medium.

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Without leaving the app, users can access our online channels, including its website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Later this year, our AI chatbot ‘Emma’ will be integrated so that users can talk to the chatbot to find out more about Germany as a travel destination beyond the UNESCO content.

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Accessibility

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Special attention was paid to accessibility. In order to best meet the needs of the target group, the app was developed in cooperation with a disability organisation.

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The app automatically adjusts to the standing and sitting height of the user (e.g. for wheelchair users; older/mobility-impaired people who prefer to sit; children).

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To prevent dizziness, the user always stands on a defined platform (with a glass floor for panoramic views from great heights). This has proven itself in tests during development. A playing area of at least 4x6m is ideal. The three elements (table, portal and column) can be placed individually in the room to make optimal use of the playing area. If a customer does not have that much space, the app can be switched to ‘virtual reality’. Then, instead of walking themselves, users can move around in the app using the joysticks on the controllers (teleportation).

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• Out of consideration for neurodivergent people, the app avoids flashing, irritating or highly emotional moments
• The app is easy to use, so that even people with cognitive impairments can access the essential functions.
• The app offers the option of adjusting the display to different colour vision deficiencies.
• For people with impaired vision, the text can be enlarged and, if necessary, read aloud by a digital speaker.
• For the hearing impaired, all essential explanations are available in text form.

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The accessible app has been highlighted in the programme of the world summit "Destinations for All" in Turino recently as best practice for barrier-free digital solutions. Many people with different accessibility need took the chance to test the app with great enthusiasm.

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Technology

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We deliberately chose the Meta Quest 3/3s because it offers excellent value for money and has by far the highest market penetration. Adaptations for other devices (e.g. PICO) are being considered. As the Meta Quest 2 is still very widespread, we have also released a pure VR version for this device.

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With a view to budget, availability and development time, we have deliberately not (yet) used technologies such as photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting or the conversion of 2D photos into walk-in 3D scenarios. This version features pure 360-degree panoramic photos. These are very well received by the target group.

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A great deal of experience from previous VR projects was incorporated into the development. This ensures that colleagues quickly learn how to use the VR glasses and the app. A digital explanation clearly illustrates the functions and content. An operating manual and a training video have also been provided. There is also a short video to explain the app in presentations. A longer video can be shown on a screen on a continuous loop on site to spark guests' curiosity. All materials can be downloaded from our media database.

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Sustainability

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The use of VR glasses with the ‘UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany’ app offers several advantages that contribute to environmental and climate protection.

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In the past, a high material expenditure on exhibition construction and screens would have been necessary for the interactive and emotional presentation of the topic ‘UNESCO World Heritage Sites’. Now, these inexpensive VR glasses are sufficient and also enable a much more individual, emotional, interactive and immersive experience than would be possible with exhibition stands.

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Our digital experience in VR replaces real showrooms, which reduces the consumption of materials such as wood, metal, plastic or paper to almost zero. The use of the glasses eliminates high transport costs and does not generate any waste.

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The glasses are carefully handled by us and have a long service life of several years. As with previous VR products, we will sell the glasses on the second-hand market via established sales portals at the end of their useful life so that they can continue to be used.

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The application enables virtual visits to sensitive or remote natural areas (e.g. the inaccessible areas of Germany's old beech forests).

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Knowledge Management

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A secondary benefit of this app is the learning gained about technical requirements and user acceptance with a view to the upcoming generation of lightweight smart glasses with VR and mixed reality mode.

We recognise that smart glasses, which are becoming increasingly slim and powerful, can be a valuable tool for tourism – both in the inspiration phase and during booking and travel. With this mixed reality project, we are already learning a lot about the necessary production processes, technical and content possibilities, and the wishes and reactions of customers. We share this knowledge with our partners, for example at our ‘Knowledge Days’.