From Virtual Tourism 1.0 to 2.0: Applying New Media to Support Sustainable Research, Conservation, Communication, and Accessibility

Through the introduction of Yorescape™, a streaming app for virtual tourism developed by Flyover Zone, this article explores the implication and application of virtual tourism on the cultural heritage tourism sector. Examining the features of current virtual tours in comparison to those offered by Yorescape, the concepts of Virtual Tourism 1.0 and Virtual Tourism 2.0 are introduced and viewed through the lenses of presence, immersion, interactivity, social engagement, accessibility, and user empowerment. Differences in information reliability, creation, and transparency between the two are also explored before a model on third-party peer-reviewed virtual experiences is presented.