The government of Kenya has just implemented the technology Google Street View in Nairobi, to boost tourism in that country. The technology provides an image of 360 degrees from a street or area, allows travelers to explore the city's landmarks and natural wonders as a backbone of tourism and hospitality sectors.
According to Kenya's Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Najib Balala, who spoke during the launch of Google Street View, the technology "will allow the global public to virtually explore the cities of Kenya and particularly Nairobi, taking the world to the country"; thus boosting international tourist arrivals and expenses. In 2017, Kenya received 1,4 million international tourists and generated US $ 1,2 billion.
Google Street View is a technology used in Google Maps and Google Earth. The feature shows panoramic photos of various cities in the world, was released in May 2007.
Cyrus Onyiego, manager of a travel agency, said that "tourism is very experiential, so Google's street view will allow tourism companies to market their destinations in a better visual way. According to the manager, the technology will also refine how tourists see activities in local destinations, which will go a long way in bringing the whole world to the country not only virtually, but also physically, especially as we go to the high season ".
With the introduction of Google Street View in Nairobi, there is no doubt that tourism stakeholders are steadily dropping caution with innovations designed to further develop the sector as service providers seek to provide reliable planning and personalized experiences through of virtual travel.
