Virtual Reality for Responsible Tourism: A Case Study of Jordan's Coral Reef

The present study examines the potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences to shape more conscious and sustainable tourism attitudes, considering the dynamic challenges posed by mass tourism's negative environmental impact. VR enables the exploration of sensitive ecosystems, such as coral reefs, without the risk of damaging them, and this is the focus of the present study, which examines the potential of VR to shape more conscious and sustainable tourism attitudes. The study focuses on a coral reef in Aqaba, Jordan, a key marine ecosystem threatened by mass tourism. The experiment involved 527 participants who took a virtual tour of Jordan combined with education about coral reefs. A mixed-methods approach was used, and data were collected through surveys and interviews after the VR experience. The results indicate participants' strong emotional response to environmental issues and their willingness to adopt greener tourism practices, such as sustainable transportation and support for local initiatives. Many respondents considered virtual tourism a viable alternative to travel to sensitive destinations. The results may be useful for tourism organisations, policymakers and researchers working on sustainable tourism development and environmental education.