This workshop presentation was delivered in Bucharest for the J'Info Tourism Training company. It focused on the potential of virtual worlds for culture, heritage and tourism.

1. Bucharest Tourism Conference Potential of Virtual Worlds for Tourism David Wortley FRSA

2. Topics Introduction Tourism and Communications Technologies Virtual Worlds and Immersive Technologies in Tourism, Culture & Heritage Future Developments

3. Introduction

4. Serious Games Institute (SGI) “An international centre of excellence for the application of electronic games and virtual worlds to serious social and economic issues”

5. West Midlands Region

6. Coventry

7. Coventry

8. Stratford upon Avon

9. Communications Technology & Culture, Heritage & Tourism

10. The Thomas Cook Story “Harnessing the power of steam to open up opportunities to experience new worlds and cultures ”

12. Accessible

13. Affordable“Thomas Cook had a passion to make the world a better place through the use of a communications network”

14. Lessons from History “Every advance in communications technology has led to increased trade and travel”

15. Stratford Unplugged “Communications technology enriching the tourist experience through location based services”

16. Key Message New Communications Technologies can make travel and tourism more attractive, accessible and affordable

17. Virtual Worlds & Immersive Technologies in Tourism, Culture & Heritage

18. What are Virtual Worlds (Spaces) ? “Connecting people, ideas, emotions, dreams virtually”

19. Immersive Technologies Games Virtual Worlds Social Networks Immersive Technologies engage our hearts, minds and wallets

20. Engaging Immersive Technologies Video Games Social Networks Virtual Worlds Digital Earth Mash-ups

21. Video Game Technologies “Introducing new cultures and heritage”

22. Social Networks

26. GPS Cameras and Photosynth “Collaborative 3D immersive environments”

27. Virtual Worlds Create opportunities to explore and meet

28. Virtual Bucharest

29. Make the Inaccessible Accessible Recreate long-lost places

30. Make the Inaccessible Accessible Where Science and Art come together

31. Digital Earth and Streetview Be there without being there

32. Mash-ups Blending Second Life with Google Earth & Maps

33. Tourism Serious Games Training Hotel Staff on Guest Relations

34. Generation Y Digital Native Digital Natives expect rich experiences

35. Key Message Video Games, Social Networks and Virtual Worlds create engagement, experience, emotions and desire

36. Future Developments

38. Accessible

39. AffordableThe Thomas Cook Strategy is still valid

40. Technology is Taking us There More Attractive experiences Faster broadband Richer graphics 3D environments More Accessible interfaces Microsoft Kinect Brainwave control Sensors and Personalisation More Affordable Mixed and augmented reality travel

41. Richer Experiences The Video Games Industry is driving rich immersion

42. New Interface Devices New Devices give easy access for all generations

43. Importance of Interfaces Interfaces to technology should not be barriers

44. Mobile Devices Mobile devices will be a gateway to future tourism

45. Connecting the Physical & Virtual We can already used mixed reality

46. Connecting the Physical & Virtual Augmented reality enriches the experience

47. Summary and Conclusion

49. Immersive technologies can stimulate desire to travel but also deliver tourism experience without travel

51. Bucharest Tourism Conference Potential of Virtual Worlds for Tourism David Wortley FRSA