Possibilities of local tourism development using virtual educational trails

Abstract

Educational trails are a traditional tool to bring local attractions closer to the visitor of the area. However, educational trails are currently changing concepts. The classic model of whiteboards with text and images no longer works - visitors do not want to read long texts. They require interactivity and a sophisticated visual experience. With the development of modern communication technologies, there is an opportunity to meet these expectations by connecting educational content with a virtual environment. The article aims to present several different types of virtual nature trails in Czechia and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their implementation from visitors' perspective. The input data are data from evaluation questionnaires from guided excursions, a substantial part of which were these educational trails; the method used is content analysis. The main findings include that visitors accept these new forms of nature trails mostly positively. Negative reactions were more of a practical nature when something did not work as it should. In addition, creating and maintaining a virtual nature trail can be significantly cheaper than its physical form, which is an advantage in rural regions where local governments do not have large budgets. The author of this article is also a co-author of one of the assessed paths; therefore, practical advice regarding the implementation of virtual educational paths is also discussed.