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ABSTRACT
This paper is an application of the virtual reality 360° concept to the Great Zimbabwe monument to produce virtual tour videos of this world-scale heritage site. The paper was prompted by the need to make this tourist magnet accessible to the physically challenged, and those constrained by finance, distance and time. It was also prompted by the need to better inform and educate guests about the monument and possibly increase visitation as several studies have showed that three-dimensional virtual tours may increase actual intention to visit. To produce the virtual videos, spherical images of the monument were first shot with a 360° camera and then stitched in Kolor Autopano software to get high-resolution images. The virtual tour videos are expected to be uploaded on a server for access by the entire world on computers, tablets and smartphones for a fee. The videos allow patrons to navigate the monument’s key archeological sites, such as the Great Enclosure and the Valley Ruins, as well as listen to highly educational and informative commentaries. As this project is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, this paper suggests that follow-up research on the videos should be undertaken to establish their impact.
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges financial support he received from the Midlands State University for this research.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes on contributor
Cleopas Njerekai is a vastly experienced lecturer and practitioner in tourism and hospitality management in Southern Africa. He has taught more than 30 tourism and hospitality management modules at different universities in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora. He graduated the first 72 Mozambicans with an English taught tourism and hospitality management degree in 2009. He introduced the Masters Degree program in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the Midlands State University in 2010 and also founded and introduced the Hospitality Management Degree at Botho University in Botswana in 2013. Mr Njerekai has been the Principal Administrative Officer for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Zimbabwe and also Industrial Liaison Officer for the University of Zimbabwe's Faculty of Commerce. He holds four (4) university qualifications from the University of Zimbabwe including a Master of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management, a Bachelor of Arts General degree, a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Geography and a Graduate Certificate in Education. He is currently a final year PhD student with the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. To date, Mr Njerekai has written and published 2 books, 4 book chapters and 10 journal articles in tourism and hospitality management and has also made presentations at several national and international fora including the Africa Travel Association (ATA).