The Singapore Tourism Board and Google's ARCore have partnered to
launch two immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences in the Visit
Singapore app.
Using Google's ARCore Geospatial API, the app allows visitors to
embark on guided tours of Merlion Park and Victoria Theatre &
Concert Hall. The AR experience, which will be fully launched by the end
of the year, enables users to engage with Singapore in new ways, from
discovering local cuisine to uncovering the city-state's rich history.
Google launched the ARCore Geospatial API last year, providing access
to global localisation technology that can track the position and
orientation of users, place virtual content in the real world and create
realistic lighting and physics.
The new ARCore experiences were previewed at Google I/O 2023, with
Singapore Tourism Board being the first global partner in Google's
ARCore Early Access Program. The app uses both Unity and the ARCore
Streetscape Geometry API, and the Visit Singapore app is available via
the App Store and Google Play Store.
One of the tour's highlights takes place at the Victoria Theatre and
Concert Hall, where visitors can witness a string quartet performing on
top of the national monument. The precise AR effects are powered by
Google's Visual Positioning System.
Miguel de Andrés-Clavera, group product manager of Google Partner
Innovations (PI), said that Google's AR and geospatial technologies have
expanded the possibilities of travel experiences, "augmenting the
physical world and heightening the element of helpful surprises for
travellers and local explorers of Singapore".
Meanwhile, Goh Kershing, senior vice president of Future Tourism at
Singapore Tourism Board, believes that the collaboration that such
innovative efforts will help the city-state stay ahead of the curve and
set Singapore apart from other destinations.