On July 12, the Zhejiang Homestay VR Technology Application Seminar was held in Hangzhou, where over 60 participants from government, academia, and industry experts discussed how homestays can seize the trends of Internet+ and leverage VR technology to address market pain points in the homestay industry.
The 360-degree panoramic visuals created by VR (virtual reality technology) offer a brand-new visual experience. "VR can perfectly and vividly recreate the 'scene' and the 'whole picture,' providing viewers with an entirely new, immersive first-person sensory experience. As VR technology and wearable devices continue to evolve, VR is becoming increasingly widespread and will enter ordinary households, becoming an indispensable 'necessity' in daily life," said Dr. Zhang Hongxin from the State Key Laboratory of CAD&CG at Zhejiang University.
Jin Bingxiong, President of Zhejiang Vocational College of Tourism, noted that homestays differ from hotels or inns, as they combine local culture, natural landscapes, ecology, and environmental resources into an emerging form. With their strong individuality and superior experience, homestays have garnered significant attention from travelers. Currently, homestays across the province are developing rapidly, with diverse types and characteristics.
According to data from the "2015 China Tourism Statistics Report" released by the National Tourism Administration, the proportion of independent travelers entering scenic areas reached 70% to 80% in 2015. Free independent travelers' demands for travel have evolved to cultural and social dimensions, and when it comes to accommodation, they prefer homestays with distinctive appearances and opportunities to interact with locals. Among the top ten Chinese cities most focused on homestays, the first five are in Zhejiang Province, indicating high attention to Zhejiang’s homestays and immense potential for the development of the "homestay economy."
Li Weigang, Director of the Industry Promotion Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Tourism Bureau, believes that while traditional print media and internet forms are commonly used for marketing and promoting homestays— a new tourism industry format—actively trying out new internet technologies such as VR for promotional campaigns and influencing younger travelers is a highly viable and quickly effective approach.
Xue Yabing, Director of the Scenic Tourism Bureau of Shangcheng District, Hangzhou; Yu Yingchun, Deputy Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Xiaoshan District; Wang Jianrong, Director of the Tourism and Trade Bureau of the West Lake Scenic Area Management Committee; Xiao Wei, Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Office of Xiaoshan District; Zheng Wei, General Manager of Hangzhou Awei Information Technology Co., Ltd.; and Wu Guolong, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Office of Tonglu County Government (from left to right), attended the Zhejiang Homestay VR Technology Application Seminar and witnessed the launch of "YouSu."
At the event, China's first homestay VR video self-media platform—"YouSu"—was officially launched. Guests wore VR glasses to watch "YouSu"-produced China's first homestay VR microfilm, "The Music Box That Heals Loneliness," showcasing the "Houyuan Tribe" homestay in Zhengcheng Village, Tonglu County. This marked Zhejiang's pioneering use of VR video technology in the homestay tourism sector. Additionally, during the seminar, "YouSu" also utilized VR live streaming for the first time, allowing netizens to experience the feeling of virtually attending the event online.
"It really feels like time travel. The combination of VR functionality and homestays, coupled with the use of internet channels, can effectively compensate for the marketing shortcomings of homestays," said Zhang Linglong, Secretary-General of the Zhejiang Travel Agency Association.
"Travelers who have actually stayed in homestays often feel that photos or even regular videos can't fully showcase them. You have to go and experience it yourself to grasp the essence of a homestay," said Zheng Wei, CEO of YouSu. Having long focused on homestays, Zheng discovered through visits and analysis that insufficient showcasing of homestays' features, hardware, and scenery has become a current market pain point. The emergence of VR technology has given homestays stronger vitality.
YouSu, China's first homestay VR promotion platform and homestay video content creator, is dedicated to driving the development of homestays and enhancing user experience through professional, content-driven approaches. It seeks innovative marketing models for traditional homestays, injecting new vitality.
"Through VR technology, consumers can freely choose their viewing angles, easily and comprehensively understanding the unique advantages and hardware of homestays. What you see is what you get. In this sense, VR and homestays are a perfect match. The experience constructed by VR is more vivid and heartfelt than traditional methods. Users only need to follow a WeChat account to watch, making it convenient for consumers to choose. Currently, as China's first homestay VR promotion platform and homestay video content creator, YouSu is committed to professional, content-driven development to drive the future of homestays, enabling every homestay owner to create their own VR videos," said Zheng Wei.
Currently, the YouSu VR Homestay Platform has been officially launched. Consumers can search for and follow "YouSu" on WeChat to experience VR videos and book homestay products. In the VR era, start your VR journey with YouSu !