TRANSFORMING VIRTUAL REALITY TOURISM THROUGH THE CYBER ISPARTA YOUTH CENTER

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has transformed various sectors, and tourism is no exception. Virtual reality tourism offers an innovative way for people to experience the world without actually leaving their homes. In this research, the "Cyber Isparta Youth Center" project, supported by the Western Mediterranean Development Agency, implemented by the Isparta Municipality and in partnership with the Isparta University of Applied Sciences, will be discussed in terms of education and tourism. Within the scope of the project, a virtual reality tour of the Cyber Isparta Youth Center was developed. The developmental research strategy, a variant of the design-based research method, was used. Cyber Isparta Youth Center has been modeled in the Unity Game Engine. A semi-structured interview was conducted to examine the effects of the virtual tour. Participant opinions were categorized into three primary groups based on the content analysis: tourism & usability, technological experience, and educational value.