Virtual Tourism: Discovering Tourism Destinations from the Comfort of Your Home

Photo by YourAAA Daily

After about six months of COVID restrictions, my partner and I were starting to feel stuck in the house. We had thoroughly explored all the local parks and were ready for something new. Travelling somewhere new and unfamiliar sounded appealing, but was not an option. Anyway, we were on a budget. What could we do? I decided to surprise my partner with a home-cooked Italian dinner, with matching music and imagery to set the mood. Though we could not travel to Italy, we were able to recreate a small piece of that experience at home.

This story illustrates what I like to call “virtual tourism”: an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way of experiencing the sights and culture of a faraway place without leaving home. Transportation, particularly flying, is very carbon-intensive and expensive. Travelling locally is healthier for the planet, but local culture and destinations are limited. Travelling to virtual destinations instead opens up a world of options and eliminates the pollution, expense, and inconvenience of flying.

Virtual destinations are an exciting option for anyone on a budget or with physical travel limitations, making it somewhat more accessible than traditional tourism. Specialty meals or ingredients may be more expensive and hard to come by, however, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Alright, so virtual destinations are a fun and sustainable option, but how does one “travel” to them? It is done by immersing yourself in the culture of a place in order to recreate the experience of being there. There are many ways to do this, but I’ll start with my personal favorite: food! Begin by researching which dishes are original to your selected location. Pick one (or several!) to prepare for a nice meal. Traditional folk music from your destination adds great ambiance and can set the mood for a romantic dinner. You might also research local artists and display their artwork while you eat to complete the setting.

Educate yourself about the location: What is it like to live there? What customs and etiquette are practiced? What about the history of the area? Reach out to someone online who lives near your destination and ask them about their experiences. You might even set up a video call with your new friend pretending as if you are visiting them in their home. If you are lucky, maybe they will even show you around the area. But before your visit, why not take the opportunity to learn a bit of the local language? During a pandemic is a great time to pick up a new language and engage virtually with a foreign culture.

Now that you know how to travel virtually, you’ll need to find the perfect destination. Why not take a digital trip to New Zealand? Drink pinot noir with soft cheeses and roasted vegetables while enjoying traditional folk music and browsing the work of kiwi artists. Or what about Paris? Enjoy fresh baked bread with savory quiche and ratatouille to the tune of rustic French accordion music. Another idea: sail away to Bora Bora to the tune of traditional island music to sample some breadfruit and view vibrant mosaics. Wherever you go, you’ll be doing a favor for yourself and the planet. Happy travels!

Author: John D. Sutton - John is a Planetary Defender at pangolin.green, creating sustainability tools, information, and inspiration. 

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