The expanded partnership with Google will create more discoverable and enjoyable geospatial AR content and experiences for visitors to Singapore.
Announced at Google I/O 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Google will be expanding on its partnership to create more augmented reality (AR) experiences, which will be directly available on Google Maps for the first time.
STB is one of two institutions globally to join a pilot programme that will bring immersive AR experiences in Singapore directly into Google Maps later this summer.
This partnership builds upon the success of Merli’s Immersive Adventure – an innovative AR tour to six enchanting stops around Singapore through STB’s Visit Singapore Travel Guide app launched in January this year. Powered by Google’s ARCore and Geospatial Creator, the tour follows Singapore’s tourism mascot, Merli, as he guides visitors to iconic spots such as the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall, Fullerton Hotel and Maxwell Food Centre.
Discovering Singapore landmarks through AR on Google Maps
As part of this pilot, STB will continue to use Google’s ARCore and Geospatial Creator to develop new location-based AR experiences. Unlike before when STB’s AR experiences were made available only on its travel app, these new AR experiences can soon be discovered and enjoyed entirely within the Google Maps mobile app, one of two cities in which these experiences will be available.
Moreover, STB has also onboarded over a dozen other tourism stakeholders in Singapore to join the pilot, who themselves will also develop location-based AR experiences. These stakeholders include retail malls along Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping belt, local heritage businesses in Chinatown and popular museums and attractions. Altogether, there will be 30 places of interests with AR experiences, creating an immersive journey across key tourism precincts in Singapore.
These include a unique blend of multicultural neighbourhoods, iconic architecture and delicious cuisine such as Chinatown, the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Sensoryscape, and many more. Whether one wants to watch the ceremonial dragon dance at Chinatown or view the local dishes they can try at the Maxwell Food Centre, there is a wide range of AR experiences they can access to embark on an immersive journey across Singapore.
With this expansion, the AR content will now be visible remotely via Street View on the Google Maps mobile app for a seamless and accessible experience regardless of location. Users near the landmarks can also discover the AR content on their mobile devices by scanning their surroundings using Lens in Maps, as it overlays the physical surroundings in the real world. This will be helpful for visitors planning their trips to Singapore, and navigating the island through AR tours when they are in the country.
The full experience will be available on Google Maps later this Summer. STB plans to further grow the number of location-based AR experiences in Google Maps beyond 30, building on its goal of making Singapore the world’s first “AR City” in Google Maps.
Simon Ang, Director, The Collaboratory, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We are excited to extend our partnership with Google to bring even more immersive and innovative experiences to travellers through AR on Google Maps. This partnership underscores STB’s dedication to testing the use of frontier technologies which can revolutionise the visitor’s experience of tomorrow.”
He added: “This pilot greatly benefits local businesses, who can leverage AR to tell different stories over the same spaces, and have their content discoverable and accessible on Google Maps. It also benefits travellers as it aids their discovery of new places of interest, and enriches them with a deeper understanding of Singapore’s rich history and culture through interactive storytelling. STB is committed to embracing technology to enhance the visitor experience and differentiate Singapore from other destinations.”
