Integrating xr technologies in tourism education: the tourxperience project.

Abstract

This paper presents the TourXpeRience project, an Erasmus+-fundedinitiative aimed at modernizing tourism education in Vocational Educationand Training (VET) institutions and universities through the integration ofExtended Reality (XR) technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR),Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). The main objective is to bridgethe gap between the digital skills demanded by today’s tourism industryand traditional training programs, fostering more sustainable, immersive,and digitally aligned education.The initial phase of the project employs a mixed-methods approach,combining structured surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focusgroups with students, educators, and industry professionals. These tools areused to identify skill gaps, barriers to technology adoption, andperceptions of XR’s potential in both educational and professionalsettings.Preliminary findings show a high level of interest in XR technologies acrossall participant groups, though implementation levels vary. Teachers andstudents recognize XR’s potential to enhance employability and makelearning more engaging, while businesses see opportunities to adaptinternational XR practices to their local operations. Expected outcomesinclude XR-based training modules, pilot educational scenarios, andstrategic policy recommendations for tourism education.Overall, TourXpeRience aims to serve as an innovative model for morecompetitive, sustainable, and forward-looking tourism training, helpinginstitutions respond effectively to industry demands and offering studentscutting-edge learning opportunities.