There is a Japanese businessman, Katsuo Inoue, who this year chose Italy for his summer holidays. A nice business class flight with all the necessary comforts and then the beauties of Rome and Florence. All without leaving Tokyo.
56-year-old Inoue and his wife “flew” as customers of the entertainment company Tokyo First Airlines, which has perhaps seriously opened up a market (however already existing) of virtual reality travel. Virtual vacation is a growing market for Japanese tourists, driven by coronavirus restrictions.
“I often go abroad for work, but I have never been to Italy,” the businessman told Reuters. “My impression was quite good because thanks to the virtual reality I had the sensation of actually seeing things there.”
Virtual holidays: you "fly"
Travelers who, needless to say, remain stationary on the ground the entire time, sit in first class or business class seats in a fake airline cabin. As with any airline meals and drinks are served throughout the flight, with screens showing external views of the aircraft 'in flight', including passing clouds.
The virtual reality visors supplied offer engaging tours to destinations including, in addition to our Italian cities of culture, Paris, New York, and even Hawaii.
Coronavirus has stopped most trips from Japan. The country's largest airline, ANA Holdings, said the number of flights to foreign destinations with its planes has decreased 96% in June. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has gone further. Last month it predicted that it will take at least another four years, until 4, for global passenger numbers to recover.
Tokyo First Airlines: Buckle up, stay on the ground
At First Airlines they don't have booking problems, as you might imagine. “Passengers” are even given a pre-flight safety demonstration with a life jacket and oxygen mask. Bookings have increased about 50% since the start of the pandemic.
Japan registered over 50.000 cases of coronavirus, with just over a thousand deaths, according to public broadcaster NHK. A second wave of infections that began to accelerate in July cooled expectations for a resumption of internal travel. Except, apparently, virtual reality travel.
“Our customers can experience sensations, journey experiences and destinations, waiting to be able to travel again”, says the president, hiroaki abe.
