The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is bringing authentic Singapore experiences to life in augmented reality (AR), powered by Google’s ARCore Geospatial AI, allowing inbound travellers to discover new sights at the touch of their fingertips around landmarks in the city.
STB is one of the first tourism partners in Google’s ARCore Early Access Programme, which empowers developers to build location-based AR experiences across more than 100 countries without having to ever physically be there.
Visitors to Singapore can download the Visit Singapore Travel Guide app and join the Merli mascot on a tour through six stops to uncover Singapore’s historical, cultural, and culinary experiences, as well as interact with nuances of the city’s heritage and modernity, right from their devices.
Some of the experiences include exploring the site of Singapore’s first-ever post office, now the iconic Fullerton Hotel, and send out postcards to loved ones virtually; see a life-sized bumboat and uncover the historical significance of the Singapore River at the Great Emporium stop; unveil hidden gems like the Peranakan Tile Gallery, a local Chinatown business featuring tiles salvaged from demolished shophouses; and feast eyes upon the recommendations for must-try hawker dishes at the Maxwell Food Centre.
