Recently, the world witnessed a pandemic due to COVID -19, which to some extent affected many sectors such as the tourism industry. Before looks at the benefits in details, it is immensely important to know that in Berlin, these walking tours are incredibly popular since old ages. Though, with such measures and precautions caused by the virus, the concept as well as the organization of walking tours looks much different now.
1. Temporarily, there have been no In-person Walking Tours.
Corona virus has also brought some impacts on the walking tour in Berlin and they include; An instance of discontinuity of physical tours. Since the virus is transmitted through close contact and in crowded settings, then social contact and density had to be reduced so as to shield the visitors and the tour guides. Therefore, many of the tour operators were forced to close their operations due to compliance with safety measures.
Nevertheless, the tour industry has learnt this and accepted other forms of working round the moves in order to supply significant exposures to tourists.
2. The Digital Gazette: New Tourism Programme: Introduction of Virtual Walking Tours
To make up for the lack of live guided walking tours during the pandemic, numerous tour operators in Berlin transformed into virtual guides and presented virtual walking tours. Through the assistance of technology, individuals can get an opportunity to see some of the prominent as well as some of the unnoticed historical sites in Berlin all from the comfort of his/her home.
Virtual walking tours are the tours implemented using technologies of Zoom or any livestream services where the participants are taken through the route as in the real walking tours. Professional guides who have a camera and a microphone take visitors through the virtual tour, presenting Berlin’s top attractions, telling exciting stories, and responding to tourists’ questions in real-time.
3. Fun and Fascinating Sessions
This means that even though virtual walking tours are not in the same nature as traditional walking tours, they have optimal benefits. Those who are performing can respond immediately with questions and receive specific tips on how to organize a visit next time. Also, virtual tours use other features like history pictures, videos, and map infographics to augment the comprehensive virtual tour experience.
The other benefit of virtual tours is that they can help one to reach more people. As some travelers can still hardly have the means to visit this destination physically, they can virtually gain much knowledge and know the numerous gifts of Berlin.
4. COVID-19 Changes to Implement in In-Person Tours
Recent measures to ease restrictions and continued travelling makes the walking tour industry in Berlin reinvent itself for conducting the guided physical tours once again. Nevertheless, a number of adaptations have been made to make all participants secure.
Small groups have been introduced by tour operators in an effort to support the government’s social distancing measures. Both guides and participants sure masks through the tour and there are many hand sanitizing points. Some tours have also brought in Walkman so that the guide can talk to everybody without necessarily being near them physically.
5. The Future Outlook
Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has brought a whole list of threats and challenges to the walking tour industry in Berlin; at the same time, it has set several opportunities and forces tour operators to move forward. New forms of promenade have appeared, and the opportunities for their extension have increased dramatically due to the emergence of virtual walking tours.
Therefore, it can be projected that as the world continues to adjust and heal, there will be a combination of online and physical walking tours. Virtual tours greatly benefit from convenience, flexibility and global access while on the other hand, live once allow for physically experiencing a new city.
One thing is for sure however – regardless the circumstances that may come the way of any of the formats, there will always be tourists eager and willing to take the walking tour of the history and culture of Berlin.
Table of Contents
