When it comes to new media and tourism, Philadelphia is setting the bar.
In January 2007, the city unveiled a $5 million dollar campaign called “uwishunu” (pronounced “you wish you knew”) to promote the city through various new media outlets including ”blogs, podcasts, social networking sites, photo- and video-sharing Web sites, RSS feeds and ‘in-the-know’ residents to spread the word about the new Philadelphia,” a press release from the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation said.
They have increased the use of Web 2.0 tactics to reach a unique, growing audience who relies on the Internet to plan and book individualized travel experiences.
Now, a year and a half later, Philadelphia has taken new media tourism one step further by introducing a 3-D virtual tour of the city. Using GeoSim Systems, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Center City District are combining satellite images, aerial photos and street-level digital photos to create the technologically advanced video. Users will soon be able to walk, drive or even fly through the city’s most acclaimed areas…without leaving their home or office!
To learn more, watch this preview video describing the various benefits of Virtual Philadelphia.
New Media = New Ideas 