A Local Startup Named Atourin Provides Free Virtual Tour Training

Only in its implementation, this new technology-based innovation is not always easy to learn by tourism actors. Seeing that problem, a local startup named Atourin was present to facilitate tour guides and tour leaders to develop virtual tours.

The virtual tour is one of the innovations that is growing today amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This startup was present and bridged the guides.

Changes in how to interact in the Corona era have now been made by many industries, not least the guides or tour leaders in the tourism sector. From offline travel in the field, not a few are starting to switch to virtualization from mobile or laptop screens.

Through a press release received by AFP on Friday (1/5/2020), Atourin introduced itself as a technology company in the tourism sector that offers services both online and offline for the Indonesian tourism industry.

Most recently, Atourin held a free online training on virtual tours via the Zoom application on 25 April. The participants were dozens of licensed guides from many provinces in Indonesia.

Atourin Offers Online and Offline Services

Through a press release received by AFP on Thursday (4/30/2020), Atourin introduced itself as a technology company in the tourism sector that offers services both online and offline for the Indonesian tourism industry.

“In the first training that was held on April 25, 2020, the number of registrants was 82 participants and around 46 participants attended the training on D-day. The training was conducted for 2.5 hours where Atourin gave a comprehensive understanding (end-to-end) related to “virtual tour and scouting activities. 46 of these participants came from various provinces in Indonesia, Western, Central, and Eastern Indonesia,” their official statement said.

Furthermore, Atourin defines a virtual tour as a tour activity that is carried out through and using online platforms that are available both free and paid platforms.

The existence of technology certainly needs to be utilized in such a way that it can provide a more complete and better experience and view of tourism. As for a number of free virtual service providers such as Zoom, Google Maps, and Street View can be used optimally.

“In general, virtual tours can be carried out anywhere and can be followed by anyone as long as they are connected to an internet connection / in the network. The implementation will involve visual experience in the form of photos of attractions, audio, and video in the form of explanations of tour guides or interactions between tour guides and participating tourists. tour, “explained Atourin.

Tour Activists Participate in this Online Training Enthusiastically

From the training that has been done, Atourin said that the participants were quite enthusiastic and actively asked questions. There is room for discussion and question-and-answer virtually.

“Knowing the new platform that can be used not only for the pandemic period but for the long term,” Suci Rifani, a licensed guide from Depok said.

Not a few also guides who are amazed by the implementation of a number of virtual applications. According to Ardian Firdaus from Solo, the training opened his eyes to Google’s function which was initially only used as a source of information.

Seeing that the participants’ enthusiasm for this training is still high, Atourin plans to hold a similar training in the near future. Atourin invites tour guides to be able to continue to think positively, pray, and help each other and collaborate with each other.

This startup also cooperates with the local government to develop 3T regional tourism. The Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (KOMINFO) synergizes with Atourin, which is a startup focused on tourism. Through the DayaMaya (Empower with the Maya) program Atourin and BAKTI develop tourism potential in the foremost, outermost (3T) regions, one of which is Natuna.