Short answer

Integrate augmented reality to create layered experiences that connect visitors more deeply with cultural heritage, encouraging exploration and supporting sustainable tourism models.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation (2021)
Method: Exploratory investigation using a 'sandbox' approach.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Augmented Reality (AR) can be leveraged to create 'hyperplaces' that integrate real-world cultural heritage with digital elements, fostering deeper engagement and promoting sustainable tourism practices. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation. Using Exploratory investigation using a 'sandbox' approach., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate augmented reality to create layered experiences that connect visitors more deeply with cultural heritage, encouraging exploration and supporting sustainable tourism models.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Augmented Reality Hyperplaces: Blending Digital and Physical for Sustainable Cultural Tourism

European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation · 2021

Key Findings

01The 'hyperplace of augmented visit' (HAV) concept can encourage tourists to spend more time at each location.
02HAV can motivate travellers to explore less popular or previously unexplored points of interest within a destination.
03The hybrid nature of AR experiences offers resilience in contexts like public health crises.
04The 'sandbox' approach fosters creativity and out-of-the-box thinking for technology application.

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate augmented reality to create layered experiences that connect visitors more deeply with cultural heritage, encouraging exploration and supporting sustainable tourism models.

How to apply

When designing tourism experiences for cultural heritage sites, consider how AR can be used to overlay historical context, interactive narratives, or virtual reconstructions onto the physical environment, encouraging exploration of the entire site.

Project actions

01Explore how AR can add value to a specific cultural heritage site in your local area.
02Consider how digital elements can guide users to less-known parts of a site.
03Think about the user journey and how AR fits into it.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can augmented reality technology be applied to create 'hyperplaces' that enhance the sustainability of cultural tourism by blending physical and digital experiences?

MethodExploratory investigation using a 'sandbox' approach.

ProcedureThe research explored novel applications of AR technology within the context of cultural tourism, specifically focusing on olive heritage in Madeira. A 'sandbox' methodology was employed to stimulate creative solutions, leading to the concept of a 'hyperplace of augmented visit' (HAV). This concept involves a hybrid tour where users interact with both real objects at their location and virtual avatars distributed across the destination via AR.

ContextCultural tourism, heritage sites, augmented reality applications.

Variables

IVAugmented reality integration (presence/absence, type of content).

DVVisitor engagement, time spent at site, exploration of new points of interest, perceived sustainability of the experience.

CVType of cultural heritage site, user familiarity with AR, pre-existing knowledge of the site.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Introduces a novel concept ('hyperplace') for AR application in tourism.
+Employs a creative 'sandbox' methodology to foster innovation.

Limitations

The conceptual nature of the 'hyperplace' means that real-world testing of its impact on sustainability and user behaviour is needed.

Reliability & validity

The study's findings are based on an exploratory investigation and conceptual development, suggesting moderate reliability and validity for the proposed concept. Further empirical testing would be required to establish stronger claims.

Think critically

To what extent can the 'sandbox' approach truly guarantee innovative and safe AR applications for cultural heritage, and what are the ethical considerations of overlaying digital content onto historical sites?

Design Principles

"Augmented reality can transform static heritage sites into dynamic, interactive 'hyperplaces' that foster deeper engagement and promote sustainable visitor behaviour."

This approach offers a novel way to enrich visitor experiences by overlaying digital information and interactive content onto physical locations. By encouraging exploration of less-visited sites and extending dwell time, it can help distribute tourism benefits more broadly and reduce pressure on popular attractions, contributing to the long-term sustainability of cultural destinations.

What This Means for Your Design

Using AR can make visiting old places more interesting by adding digital layers, like virtual characters or information, which can help spread tourists out and make the visit better for everyone.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the potential of AR to enhance user experience and sustainability in design projects related to tourism or cultural heritage.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The concept of 'hyperplaces' utilizing augmented reality, as explored by Marques da Silva (2021), offers a promising avenue for enhancing the sustainability of cultural tourism. By blending digital content with physical heritage, these hyperplaces can encourage deeper visitor engagement and promote exploration of a wider range of attractions, thereby contributing to a more balanced and resilient tourism model.

Source

European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation

In Quest of a New AR Technology Application to Enhance the Sustainability of Cultural Tourism: The Olive Heritage in Madeira Through the Looking Glass of a ‘Sandbox’ Approach

journal · 2021

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about augmented reality hyperplaces: blending digital and physical for sustainable cultural tourism?: Integrate augmented reality to create layered experiences that connect visitors more deeply with cultural heritage, encouraging exploration and supporting sustainable tourism models. Evidence: European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation (2021).
Why does "Augmented Reality Hyperplaces: Blending Digital and Physical for Sustainable Cultural Tourism" matter for design?: This approach offers a novel way to enrich visitor experiences by overlaying digital information and interactive content onto physical locations. By encouraging exploration of less-visited sites and extending dwell time, it can help distribute tourism benefits more broadly and reduce pressure on popular attractions, contributing to the long-term sustainability of cultural destinations.
How can designers apply this research?: Integrate augmented reality to create layered experiences that connect visitors more deeply with cultural heritage, encouraging exploration and supporting sustainable tourism models.
What were the main findings?: The 'hyperplace of augmented visit' (HAV) concept can encourage tourists to spend more time at each location.. HAV can motivate travellers to explore less popular or previously unexplored points of interest within a destination.. The hybrid nature of AR experiences offers resilience in contexts like public health crises.. The 'sandbox' approach fosters creativity and out-of-the-box thinking for technology application.
What research method was used?: Exploratory investigation using a 'sandbox' approach..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2021 journal from European journal of tourism, hospitality and recreation.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing tourism experiences for cultural heritage sites, consider how AR can be used to overlay historical context, interactive narratives, or virtual reconstructions onto the physical environment, encouraging exploration of the entire site.
What are the limitations?: The study is exploratory and conceptual; practical implementation challenges and user adoption rates were not fully assessed. The specific effectiveness of the 'sandbox' approach for this particular application requires further validation.