Tour From Home to fight Coronavirus
- Chokoon
- Aug 15, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: May 21
Project Title: ท่องเที่ยวจำลอง: Tour From Home 2020
Condition: Completed
Date: 04/2020
Challenged by the COVID-19 crisis in Thailand, the initiative "Thai Citizens Against Crisis: Citizen Resilience Project", funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, was established to support community-based solutions during the pandemic. Among 565 proposals submitted nationwide, Tour From Home 2020 was one of the 57 sub-projects selected for its innovative approach to relief.
This particular project focused on one of the hardest-hit professions during the pandemic: tour guides. With borders closed and tourism halted, many guides who rely heavily on international travel and in-person interactions were left without income or job security. Tour From Home 2020 sought to reimagine tourism through digital means, offering alternative forms of engagement and storytelling to empower guides and reconnect them with audiences, virtually.
Thailand has long been one of the most visited countries in Asia, welcoming over 30 million international tourists annually. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought this thriving industry to a sudden halt, with tourism numbers plummeting by more than 90%. As a result, over 30,000 licensed tour guides across the country found themselves unemployed; a number that continued to rise. This dramatic downturn not only disrupted countless livelihoods but also dealt a severe blow to the national economy, which heavily depends on the tourism sector.
The nationwide lockdown dramatically altered the course of daily life and work across countless industries. Many professionals were either laid off or required to remain at home, adjusting to remote work as the new norm. Amid these changes, numerous individuals faced financial hardship, seeking alternative ways to supplement their lost income. Among the hardest hit were Thailand’s tourist guides, who, due to the near-total collapse of the tourism industry, were forced into indefinite unpaid leave as the market came to a standstill.
Moreover, tour guides were unable to secure employment due to legal restrictions that prohibit them from working independently without affiliation to a licensed tour company. This regulation, coupled with the collapse of tourism, effectively guaranteed a prolonged period of unemployment; estimated between 3-6 months. As a result, many guides were left with no option but to appeal to the government for urgent financial relief and support measures.
To address this challenge through the lens of the new normal and holistic well-being, our team, comprising architectural designers and creative technologists, proposed a solution centered around “Virtual Tour” media. We explored the availability of 3D datasets and photorealistic digital models of Thailand’s cultural and architectural landmarks, integrating them into a WebAR platform and promoting them through a dedicated Facebook page. This initiative served as a digital countermeasure to support the struggling tourism industry during the pandemic.
Our primary objective was to empower experienced Thai tour guides, those intimately familiar with the historical and architectural significance of these landmarks, to share their stories and expertise with audiences confined to their homes, enabling immersive cultural experiences despite physical distance.
With this objective in mind, we reached out to key organizations, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Department of Tourism, and the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand, to align our efforts and ensure the feasibility of the initiative. Our team conducted inquiries into the current situation while launching an open call for Thai tour guides interested in participating.
As a result, we organized a series of digital live tour events in collaboration with the guides who enrolled. Each session followed a co-hosted format, where a moderator engaged with a guide in real time, narrating historical and cultural insights about significant landmarks. The format also invited live audience interaction, allowing the guides to share personal stories and experiences that enriched the narrative.
These live sessions served as a platform to maintain visibility for the tourism industry during the pandemic. Tour guides were encouraged to showcase their unique storytelling styles and personalities, helping to draw in audiences and foster engagement. This not only provided emotional support and a sense of purpose but also created opportunities for viewer donations and potential remote employment.
Furthermore, the LIVE tour series was scheduled and broadcast weekly via Facebook. To date, there are 7 episodes, featuring iconic landmarks such as Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya, Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok, and even an outbound segment showcasing San Sebastian Basilica in the Philippines. All episodes remain accessible for replay on our Tour From Home Facebook page.
This broadcasting initiative also provided a platform for tour guides to showcase their profiles publicly. Viewers at home were invited to support their favorite guides through voluntary donations, offering a direct and meaningful way to show appreciation and help sustain these professionals during a difficult period.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya, Thailand
Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok, Thailand
San Sebastian Basilica exterior, Manila, Philippines
San Sebastian Basilica interior, Manila, Philippines
The virtual reality tour was successfully executed through the collaboration of skilled Thai tour guides and high-quality 3D photogrammetry data, generously provided by international partners including CyArk, Sketchfab, and Nova Research.
Compared to traditional in-person tours, virtual reality offers several distinct advantages. Leveraging detailed 3D models, users are able to explore heritage landmarks from entirely new perspectives; with the ability to shift seamlessly between aerial views that reveal the overall architectural layout and close-up inspections of typically restricted areas, inaccessible in real-life tours due to privacy or safety concerns. Most importantly, it can be experienced from anywhere across the globe.
These virtual heritage sites can be explored via our official website, www.tourfromhome.org. All materials are non-commercial and freely accessible for LIVE self-guided experiences and educational purposes.
We hope this project serves as a valuable learning resource for students and enthusiasts across disciplines, while also inspiring a renewed appreciation for Thai cultural landmarks and contributing to the long-term resilience of the Thai tourism sector.
Tour From Home project was promoted on several news report. Special Thanks to
Daily News
Thai PBS
Nation TV
All of the LIVE tour episodes are available on our Facebook page
Wat Phra Si Sanphet Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=933123653804380
Wat Phra Si Sanphet Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2317274345242800
Wat Phra Si Sanphet Part 3: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=598925364076216
Wat Benchamabophit Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=570099047214361
Wat Benchamabophit Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=868845606972156
San Sebastian Basilica Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=325037218514098
San Sebastian Basilica Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=287982008958797
Credits:
In collaboration with Abbok Design
Abbok design studio is an architecture company based in Bangkok. They are an expert in interior design that brings technology applications into reality in the form of VR & AR. They believe in providing better solutions through tech and creativity to reach the best possible service needs. Check out their delicate work at https://www.abbok.net
The project was also published on:
Thai PBS:
Nation TV:
Techsauce:
Naewna:
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