Virtual Tourism Misunderstood

Abstract

Today, the increasingly knowledgeable tourism system is one of the most diverse and largest industries in the world, with undeniable social and economic consequences and one of the most important sources of income for countries. Entering the digital age and the increasing growth of information and communication technologies, like all businesses and activities, has revolutionized the tourism industry. In the face of these rapid changes, “virtual tourism” is a common misconception that some non-tourism experts use as a type of tourism, and, surprisingly, even tourism students and graduates sometimes do so and they do phlegm. Due to the necessity of sound conceptualization that leads to better thought and practice, this study firstly explores the philosophy and concept of tourism through an analytical-descriptive method and conducts library studies and then addresses the aspects of tourism development in the digital space, and it has shown that demand-driven virtual or electronic tourism is confused with demand-side virtual tourism. Since it is necessary to take into account the supply, demand and demand side of tourism, the use of the word virtual tourism is an obvious error and in conflict with the fundamental principles and philosophy of tourism. And the most important reason is that touring in cyberspace not only does not accompany detachment from daily life, which is a prerequisite of tourism, but in today's world, it is the same as the routineness of life.