A comparative analysis of augmented reality supported virtual guides in cultural heritage tourism

This paper focuses on the growing importance of augmented reality technology, especially in the case of applications of virtual tours in relation to cultural heritage and tourism. Augmented reality superimposes digital information on the real world, enhancing users' experiences with interactive and educative ways of exploring cultural destinations. The paper discusses three different case studies: the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Singapore Tourism Board. These cases demonstrate how augmented reality, often through the use of virtual mascots, can be integrated into various cultural and geographical contexts to achieve a variety of goals. This article provides an overview of the development of AR, its access through any common device, and its potential for disrupting cultural tourism. This study tries to analyze how AR-based virtual guide applications perform through case studies of these cases and categorizes various methods and tools used in applications.