Wales has become the first UK nation to launch into the Metaverse, which is a way to reach new audiences and inspire them to visit Wales. This has been undertaken by Visit Wales showcasing some of the best Wales has to offer. Visit Wales are using an innovative way to promote Wales in an online sphere where millions of people already meet every day. The Metaverse presents an idea of what is available to do on holidays here in Wales. It showcases the beauty of the country and users are able to build a virtual interactive itinerary which showcases real-life places to stay, experiences, places, attractions and events.
The immersive experience allows visitors to navigate the Welsh-inspired landscape as a virtual version of themselves, whilst seeing a snapshot of the country’s culture and heritage through a range of features. These include:
• A historic castle with a hidden map of Wales to be found.
• A cable car ride - similar to the one in Llandudno, in North Wales, for visitors to travel from one side of the Metaverse to the other.
• An amphitheatre, like that which stood in Roman-era Caerleon, with screens showcasing highlights of Wales’s vibrant music and culture.
• Anyone entering the Wales Metaverse can take on quests, including collecting dragons hidden across the ‘island’.
Online cyberworld is the next generation of interest experiences. Visit Wales is using billboard ads in the virtual world of Roblox, much like in the real-world, these ads reach people in highly populated and visible locations, around one of the biggest Metaverse communities in the world. The Welsh world has been created in partnership with Swansea-based Meta architects, iCreate.
Global visitors to the Metaverse number 600 million annually across a number of Metaverse platforms, with Wales’ one being hosted on the platform Spatial. This digital space adds to the ever-expanding ways Wales is advertising itself to would-be visitors and potentially the first European nation to take this innovative approach to advertising itself to visitors through such a ‘world’.
iCreate founder Dawn LyleOur aim is to bring the endless possibilities of Wales to life in an immersive experience of exploration, helping audiences plan their dream itinerary in Wales while they complete mini quests in the Metaverse experience. Wales punches above its weight when it comes to innovation and technology. We’re excited to be a part of this initiative, with the virtual space opening up new worlds of possibility to reach new audiences."
To explore Wales in the Metaverse, visit visitwales.com/metaverse.
