INNOVATIVE CHANGES IN HISTORICAL TOURISM OBJECTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL TOOLS

The digital revolution is also evident in the tourism industry. Its use is becoming more and more massive and does not bypass any of the services provided to its participants in tourism. Virtual reality is a powerful tool that can play a significant role in the tourism industry. In approximating the historical potential, it is an ideal helper for displaying what cannot be fully returned to under the influence of time. The paper discusses digital advancement in tourism at an example of analyzing the public's interest in applying virtual reality to services in historical objects (castles, manor houses, museums, etc.). As part of the study, questionnaire research was carried out on a research sample of visitors to historical objects in the Slovak Republic. Its results are described in more detail using several methods of advanced statistics such as Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, normality test and others. The results of the research show that virtual reality as a modern digital tool that is perceived as a highly beneficial element for innovating the services of historical objects. Through it, the product portfolio expands and the experience increases. This indicates the justification for its further expansion into historical tourism objects in the country.