Virtual Touristis in the Metaverse Industry

Virtual Tourist

According to a recent Technavio , the global metaverse market in travel and tourism is up over 25% in 2022. Although the market is fragmented with several different platforms offering a range of tourism related products, the revenue for this industry in transition is expected to grow to $188 billion by 2026. report Covid19 restricted our travel like never before. From an insider's standpoint, it was devastating for many travel operators who were unable to service their clients, manage existing bookings, or plan for future bookings — and that's not even taking the airline refund nightmare into account. From large OTA's like booking.com to smaller, local travel agencies, travel was at a standstill. Airlines were thrown into chaos, tourist destinations were empty and the knock-on effect included job losses and long-term industry damage. Corporate travel was replaced by Zoom meetings and virtual conferences. Technology played a pivotal role in keeping industries alive during this time but also ensuring that we stayed connected in a world that was extremely isolated. As the world grappled with the future of travel, it became clear that physical travel and the ultimate need to escape from our daily lives weren't going away. However, the lack of physical travel options during the pandemic forced us to search for alternative forms of tourism. That's when the virtual tourism market really began to take shape. Catering for the new virtual tourist market There are five stages of the travel buyer's journey. Inspiration, planning, booking, experiencing and sharing. These stages of motivation will change as a tourist explores both physical and digital travel opportunities. The fascinating element of Web3 travel is the borderless opportunity to create unique experiences. The feasibility of tourism attractions that require stringent planning permissions and are limited by physical restraints is eliminated with the click of a button in the virtual world. This provides inspiration for those of us who love to create entertainment for the pleasure of others. If you are in the business of hospitality, then the metaverse offers un-imagined potential for discovering how transferrable your skills really are. Although the metaverse cannot replace physical travel, it can create the desire to travel and the ability to explore or travel around virtual environments in new ways. Simulated experiences can include virtual reality headsets that create the sights, sounds, feelings and even smells of different places. Putting users in the shoes of local people to pre-plan travel experiences can make a place more tangible and allow for pre-travel exploration. Using an avatar, tourists can take a virtual tour, interact with other avatars and imagine what it feels like to be in the physical space. Where will tourists go in the metaverse? There are many metaverse platforms providing unique use cases for the tourism industry but most are still only beginning to realize the potential of the industries that are exploring virtual environments. Harnessing the power of data to pluck out the most viable options for new tourist experiences will be important. For easy access to virtual entertainment, playing with properties in Upland allows users to get a taste of the monopoly of the metaverse. A unique feature of Upland is its focus on supporting start-ups and businesses. As the tourism industry seeks to carve out its place in the virtual world, opening a Meta Venture in Upland may provide a way to test new business models and engage a new community in your brand values. It has emerged as one of the fastest-growing virtual worlds. With over 3 million users and counting, Upland has become a metaverse super app due to its accessibility across Android, iOS, and VR headsets. Experimenting with a pixelated world of gamified experiences is one way to provide a new lease of life to the travel industry. Attractions in The Sandbox Game are paired with quests and playful entertainment for the end users. Playing host to the first Irish Pub in a Web3 metaverse is a starting point for any metaverse catering for broader entertainment. From Metaverse Fashion Week to the largest virtual music festival in the metaverse, although it's only in its infancy, Decentraland is carving out its niche in the events market. Ice Poker house has become a go-to attraction for users of this platform and provides a welcome component of engagement for players interested in spending some evenings online. Neoki is a new metaverse platform aimed at providing a home for designers in the metaverse. It could be argued that without designers, travel experiences, both physical and virtual would not exist. Design will be a crucial component of the future as we navigate through these virtual environments and find suitable homes for the tourist attractions we have come to love in the real world. Conclusion While some individuals may be hesitant or unwilling to embrace this technological advancement, others view it as a chance to create innovative offerings. Considering that the tourism industry typically advances alongside advancements in information and communication technologies, it's entirely appropriate to examine how it can incorporate this virtual world. The metaverse as an advancement of our tourism needs remains a work in progress. Its development requires significant investment in terms of user experience, design and a regulatory framework to monitor user behavior. While some individuals view the metaverse as a way to move towards sustainable tourism and reduce our negative impact on physical environments, the digital infrastructure needs to match the sustainable goals or it may counteract efforts to promote environmentally-friendly tourism. Although virtual tourism cannot replace real-life experiences, leveraging the metaverse to showcase new tourist experiences and inspire future travel opportunities is worth exploring. In addition, as the world of Web3 is still crying out for transferable skills, the hospitality industry is poised to offer highly trained customer service professionals and communications experts that can articulate the experiences on offer through these new virtual platforms.

Tourism in the Metaverse:  Transitioning to a Hybrid Future of Travel

The Metaverse is currently one of the hottest keywords in the technology market, with great applications for users in many fields such as education, business, and health, among others. This proves that Metaverse is increasingly accepted by the public. Researchers and developers are still in the process of enhancing this type of technology to fully apply it to our lives. What is Metaverse? The Metaverse can be understood as a 3D universe, an online virtual reality world, endless and combining many virtual spaces. In the metaverse, users can communicate, meet, work, and play games. Participants will often use supporting devices such as VR, AR, and XR, allowing them to experience the Metaverse in a good way. The Metaverse is considered the next generation of the Internet, a tight and realistic combination of the physical world and the virtual world. Featured of Metaverse Metaverse attracts the tech community via following current trends like Al, and blockchain. Since then, It can maintain and develop the ecosystem's services. This helps Metaverse continue to grow whether users interact or not. Sustainability: This feature allows users to appreciate and compare their experiences in this virtual world with the real world. Immersion: Metaverse is an open space, allowing users to connect or disconnect at any time. Openness: The Metaverse can exist as an economy between the real world and the virtual world. It allows users to exchange their assets between the real world and the Metaverse easily. Economic system: What future applications of Metaverse are there? A 3D interactive experience Users can use Metaverse for meetings and meet colleagues through tools called AR, VR, MR, and XR. This helps to bring a sense of authenticity, increasing the emotional effects of face-to-face meetings in real life. In addition, there are 3D visualization tools, applied to online education and training models when there are some barriers such as geography or disease outbreaks. Art In the future, artists will be able to join the Metaverse to hold concerts, perform, and chat with fans while still retaining the real-world experience. Gaming One of the outstanding applications of Metaverse is gaming, they are applied to the metaverse to create realistic games, bringing a virtual feeling to life with the support of devices such as VR, and AR. Education Metaverse is applied to education in order to the teaching is more flexibly and diversely. Users are more interested in using education in the metaverse because it will help to enhance interaction for them. Virtual tourism These days, virtual travel is one of the trends in the Metaverse. With the development of technology, you do not need to travel in real life, with just a few electronic devices, you can travel without having to go to tourist destinations. However, the limitation of virtual tourism is that users cannot be flexible in moving locations in tourist destinations. Conclusion Metaverse has been applied to many fields in our life. Now, all we need is time, Metaverse will be more and more improved in the future. It helps users experience reality. In virtual life, instead of experiencing it in real life. Metaverse will change the thinking of people about the digital world.

What’s in the Future for Metaverse

Unpacking the next big thing in the digital universe and what it means for the world. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg renaming the company ‘Meta’ (we’re still getting used to that) was not just a clever PR rebrand, but signalling of the sign of the times; a tectonic shift in how we interact with technology, and how it will soon shape the landscape of the digital world. And we’re not just talking about a gamification of human lives, this is an area that investors and experts project to boom by in the next decade. “Ready Player One” $30 trillion What is the Metaverse? Imagine a world that combines your shopping, travelling and entertainment experience with the immersion of virtual and/or augmented reality. Metaverse is the working term for cyberspace that enables users to ‘live’ within a digital universe with the help of next-gen technologies. The term “Metaverse” comes from the 1992 novel, “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson, where he describes the “Metaverse” as a digital universe where people interact using 3D avatars. The purpose of the Metaverse is the unprecedented marriage of our physical and digital worlds intersecting with our experience of gaming, watching videos, travelling, working, interacting and conducting business. And that too, quite literally, Meta is developing a pair of haptic gloves that can simulate the feeling of human touch (“touch some grass” but virtually). Give me some examples of Metaverses Online platforms like and , where users live as avatars, attend concerts and hang out with friends virtually, come extremely close to describing what the future of the metaverse may look like; digital applications that harness the immersion of VR/AR/holographic avatars. Fortnite Roblox Metaverse may also boost productivity, the headset offers several apps that create VR workspaces to streamline using multiple windows and rearrange them as per need. Oculus Quest Popular online , owned by Microsoft, is another fine example of the ‘verse. With up to , the platform enables online world creation and interaction. MMO Minecraft 140 million users Big-tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, as well as the entire complex of cryptocurrency, are eyeing the metaverse as the next watershed moment in the history of digital interaction. When can I use the Metaverse? Metaverse is still a ‘what if?’. There is a high chance that term in itself might become obsolete by the time we come around to experience some of the projects it offers. As per Zuckerburg himself, the metaverse may take up to a decade till it is fully developed. While a lot of the skeletal facets (VR/AR headsets, online avatar-based platforms) are already in place, what metaverse truly has to offer will only be expounded by time. Even at , Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for Meta did not include any real-life products, but a more imaginative recreation of what this new world can look like. Facebook Connect 2021 At the moment it refers to some AR/VR applications, virtual meeting rooms, games, ultrafast broadband networks and marketplaces. The bridge between that and its fully encompassing vision as a game-changer is yet to be realised. And it has attracted the attention of some big names. Where are the Metaverse ‘Big 3’ at? : The social media giant, Facebook, rebranded as ‘Meta’. Entering the Metaverse following some in the AR/VR sector and their purchase of in 2017, Beat Games in 2019 and BigBox VR in 2021. Meta (earlier Facebook) key investments Oculus Meta aims to develop a suite of applications that shift life as it is into the VR and AR space. Users interact through lifelike 3D avatars; meetings, concerts, shopping, festivals, gaming, all done virtually. : Google has been extremely tight-lipped about their AR endeavours, however in a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang, CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his excitement at the future of “immersive computing, ambient computing, ” Google AR. Google Labs oversees their augmented reality development. Google announced ‘ ’ at I/O 2021, a conferencing booth that combines spatial audio, 3D imaging and real-time compression to provide realistic 3D video. Project Starline Area 120, is an incubator under Google responsible for projects like Stacks, GameSnacks and Museletter is underseeing Google’s future AR expansions. The computer giant is driving forward its metaverse expansion through its Mesh, platform, which makes use of holograms and mixed and extended reality applications. Microsoft Teams introduced its mixed reality avatar interactions to make meetings more interactive. Microsoft: Microsoft has also revealed plans to build fully explorable virtual workplaces as a flash into the future. They have also collaborated with the U.S Army on the ‘ ’, an AR headset to train soldiers in combat. Hololens 2.0 : While nothing is concrete or official from the Cupertino-based tech giants, they were one of the earliest to the AR party, acquiring patents to a headset-based device in . Fresh patents acquired as early as a week before the announcement of ‘Meta’ pertain to head-mounted devices that use for meetings and so forth. Apple 2013 reality enhanced Other interesting Metaverse developments : Seoul’s mayorship announced this year the to convert the South Korean capital into a metaverse city. Referring to a virtual communication ecosystem that encompasses economic, cultural, tourist, educational and civic service needs. Metaverse city Seoul Vision 2030 plan By 2023 the city will put in place a virtual redressal system where citizens can interact with avatar versions of administrative officials. The grand vision will pan out to make it the world’s first metropolitan in the metaverse. : The government of Barbados decided this year to set up a ‘metaverse embassy’. This form of transferable diplomacy, across the meta-worlds, can perhaps chart a new and unique way for countries to engage with each other, and perhaps even multilateral diplomacy to thrive. Metaverse diplomacy Metaverse: A world of exciting opportunities and discoveries The ‘Metaverse’ is here to change things forever, its revolutionary capabilities will only unearth with time. But what we can see is that its groundbreaking ability to disrupt our interactions will be unprecedented.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Metaverse

What Will the Spring of Technology Bring? Part 2 — Virtual Human

All You Need to Know About Why People Fall for Robots and Buy Their Pitch Honestly, I don’t like influencers. The whole idea of strangers trying to steal my attention and manipulate my choices makes me cringe big time. However, as a marketer, I can’t deny their power to grow fanbases and drive conversions for brands. Today, we've got a weird kid on the block: virtual influencers - computer-generated fiction pulling huge crowds and bagging brand deals. A perfect fit for today’s AI & Metaverse hype. The game is big: show the virtual human market could rocket to $440.3B by 2031! predictions So, here's the million-dollar question: A̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶f̶u̶c̶k̶e̶d̶?̶! Can these robots really turn the hype into hard, real-world conversions? And would your audience welcome it if you add them to your marketing mix? Stick around as we dive in and reveal the truth. First, Let’s Explore Some Buzzworthy Virtual Influencers You’ve Likely Heard Of have it that as of 2023, there are over 150 active virtual influencers across the globe. Sources Here are the Top 5 who have attracted millions of followers: A quick snapshot of their profiles reveals: Avatars that mimic human-like appearances or take the shape of whimsical cartoons, each armed with their unique selling points and identities. A wide spectrum of audience interaction, from riveting or divisive narratives to captivating collaborations. Behind-the-scenes teams devoted to maintaining a steady stream of content and promotions. Active engagement with followers, building a solid rapport. A knack for raking in serious cash. However, it's not straightforward to pinpoint a universal secret sauce behind their top-of-the-chart success. And now, I'm curious - What’s your first reaction when you see them? For me, it was a definite "WTF?!” Then I followed them all. My mind was teeming with questions. Why would real people interact with these virtual folks, knowing they're not real?! Then, I stumbled upon a possible explanation: Programmed with memories and feelings… 😕😳 Interesting pitch… While it admittedly treads on the line of manipulating people's emotions, scrolling through the comments was enlightening. Fans leaped to the defense, insisting that “she's just like us” - relatable, vulnerable, and emotionally capable. A little later in this article, we'll delve deeper into why people feel compelled to engage with robots. So stay tuned! Now, let's see them from a marketing perspective. Virtual Influencers as a Concept Shatter All Major Marketing Dogmas Traditionally, marketers have preached the indispensable importance of authenticity, realness, and expertise for successful endorsers. But the reality is changing. Today, being unreal is no longer an issue. When well-crafted, virtual influencers can make consumers forget the artificiality of the interaction, fostering relationships is just like human influencers. Don't believe it? Just scroll through the comments under some virtual celebs’ accounts. You'll find people sympathizing, offering advice, drawing inspiration, and even consulting with robots on their most intimate life issues. Sounds a bit shocking, doesn’t it? So, how should we go about this phenomenon? Perhaps it's time to reassess some long-standing marketing dogmas through the lens of a new type of parasocial interaction - between humans and robots. This is exactly what we’re gonna do next. Sensational Insights Into Human-Robot Parasocial Interactions, According to Studies During my deep dive into this subject, I stumbled upon a study titled “ ” . Let’s Get Virtual As of now, it's likely the most meaty resource on the topic. Its implications are crucial to assess whether virtual influencers can do more than just catch eyeballs and drop jaws. Specifically, whether they can truly drive sales. Let's unpack some of the key findings: 1) Consumers Interact With Virtual Influencers Just as They Do With Humans This echoes our earlier discussion but adds a more granular perspective. So how exactly do users interact with robots? They react with empathy: bonding emotionally, connecting over shared values, drawing inspiration, and expressing feelings towards the virtual influencers and their narratives. engage with eWOM (Electronic Word of Mouth) by sharing and endorsing robots’ content. For marketers, this is a game-changer - it shows that consumers are not just open to robotic messages, but they're embracing them. evaluate endorsements from robots much like they would from human endorsers: discover, explore, purchase, and repeat. Yes, the good old buyer’s journey. What's the bottom line? The effectiveness of endorsements from virtual influencers might just be measured in the same way as with human endorsers. Therefore, there's no need for a new marketing science when you're hiring a robot to promote your brand. 2) Brand Fit Is Not a MUST Conventional marketing wisdom maintains that a brand and its endorser must share aligned values and meanings. Yet, virtual influencers flip this dogma on its head. According to the study, even . when there's a mismatch between a brand and its virtual endorser, the effectiveness of the endorsement isn't compromised This could be because virtual influencers can adapt to a wide range of brand narratives and messages, acting as a dynamic canvas rather than a fixed image. Unlike their human counterparts, virtual influencers aren't necessarily expected to have permanent values or adhere strictly to a specific persona. Take Lil Miquela for example. She is a master of many trades. She effortlessly jumps from one industry to another, maintaining  her credibility and influence across a variety of sectors: fashion, politics, social activism (Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ), and music. Tomorrow, she could turn into a spiritual guru or therapist. And her followers would likely be completely okay with that. In sum, followers don't mind if their favorite robot takes on a multitude of roles and engages in cross-industry campaigns, regardless of their established positioning. Interestingly, this anti-niche approach is also gaining popularity among human influencers. And why actually not? Following someone rigidly fixed in their expertise is such a boring hell. 3) Credibility May Not Be as Crucial . People might perceive virtual influencers as credible, but this credibility isn't necessarily a decisive factor in their endorsement success In contrast to traditional endorsers, a robot's credibility doesn't significantly influence purchasing decisions. It seems that consumers weigh other aspects when mulling over an endorsed product. For instance, if a marketing campaign aims to boost purchase intention, marketers should connect the virtual influencer to their target audience through an engaging storyline, promoting emotional interactions. Putting all efforts into bolstering a robot's credibility might not yield optimal results. Primarily, virtual influencers are entertainment personas, showcasing a lifestyle through snapshots of live events, trendy outfits, and the latest product usage. As consumers emotionally connect and identify with them, they might be influenced to make purchases. It's the appeal of partaking in this promoted lifestyle, not the credibility cues, that likely drives their purchasing decisions. With all this in mind, it's time to tackle another important question: How effectively do virtual stars convert their buzz into sales? Can Virtual Influencers Really Help Brands Sell Like Crazy? This is a tricky question. Expectedly, there is currently little research on whether significant advertising goals are being met with the use of virtual influencers. Consider this: if we see Prada partnering with Lil Miquela, it doesn't directly imply that Prada's revenues soared or that the brand tightened its bond with customers, right? Similarly, an abundance of comments on a virtual influencer's Instagram post doesn't necessarily mean increased sales. Without tangible conversion data at our disposal, it's challenging to make an objective judgment on the true effectiveness of virtual influencers as endorsers. And let's be honest, no major brand will openly confess if their big bet on virtual influencers, in hopes of riding the hype, yielded a poor ROI, would they? However, there's one statistic that annoyingly keeps popping up in the context of virtual influencer marketing… Stats Point to 3X Engagement Rate This statistic is the one from HyperAudit. It’s quoted in nearly every article on the subject. ( ) Virtual Influencers have almost three times the engagement rate of real influencers. HyperAudit Let’s make a quick check on this 3X mysterious claim. I'll compare Lil Miquela with her real-life counterpart of a similar following -  Brittany Xavier (@brittanyxavier). Like Lil, Brittany is a fashion and lifestyle influencer, boasting a similar follower count and high-profile brand collaborations. Now, let's see what the Analisa tool reveals about their engagement: Well, compared to Brittany Xavier's engagement rate of 68,791, Lil Miquela's looks depressing… 3X ER - is that what they're saying?? How they calculated these numbers is quite puzzling. And honestly, I'd strongly suggest any brand tread carefully before taking this '3X' claim as a guiding light when incorporating virtual influencers into their marketing mix. The effectiveness of a virtual influencer relies heavily on an array of variables and nuances. There's a good chance these numbers are more about muddying the waters than providing clear insight. Since we don’t have any firm stats and conversion data to lean on, let’s attempt to gauge a robot’s conversion potential by delving into the mindset of its followers. For this, I'll once again turn to the studies. Responsiveness: More Personal Than Human Influencers… Top virtual influencers are available round-the-clock. They tend to post and, what’s more important, to comment back way more frequently than their human counterparts. As a result, followers feel more appreciated and recognizable. This breeds strong bonds. Imagine this: You leave a comment under a robot’s post, and all of a sudden get a response like this: “Oh, honey it’s you again. How’ve been you so far? I remember, 3 months ago you mentioned you’ve been passing through hard times with your partner. Hope, you two are still together.” Alright, this is a joke. I’ve never got responses like this yet. BUT! Programming a robot to remember and recognize its most loyal fans and cater to them with personalized responses is entirely achievable. Once that’s in place, would it boost a robot’s trustworthiness and sales potential? Abso-f*ckin-lutely! Relatability As in the case of Lil Miquela, a human-like appearance and communication style - emojis, likes, friendly narratives, and vulnerable stories shared - all blur the boundary between the real and artificial. When a robot looks and talks like a human, people can relate. Now, add 24/7 responsiveness and the absence of moodiness or toxicity into the mix. What a powerful combo! Trustworthiness Simply put, followers don't find virtual influencers any less genuine than human ones. And this makes sense. After all, human influencers, whether they're dudes with Lambos and trophy girls selling 'success' stories, or women sharing fabricated tales of overcoming health issues (like did) to promote their unique solutions, are also crafting a reality. Belle Gibson So if both human and virtual influencers portray a constructed reality, why not trust a robot in the same way you can trust a person? Unique Novelty It's simply fascinating to understand how simulated persons operate. Diverse Talents and Content Virtual influencers captivate attention by demonstrating a range of abilities, such as singing, dancing, and fashion knowledge, positioning them as go-to resources on a variety of topics. These insights sync well with data from the ’s Survey below. Influencer Marketing Factory Now, let's delve deeper into who these people are. According to the same Factory’s survey: Nearly 45% of the virtual influencer audience are women aged between 18 and 34. There's a significant representation of young people, with roughly 15% falling within the 13 to 17 age range. Interestingly, those between 35 and 44 years old resonate most with virtual influencers, rating them as highly relatable (6.2 out of 10) and trustworthy (6.5 out of 10). Moreover, the survey found that: Over half of the respondents follow at least one virtual influencer. About 35% have even purchased a product endorsed by digital influencers, primarily those aged between 18 and 44. In summary, well-executed virtual influencers can carve out their niche by delivering engaging content to a relevant audience. They are capable of establishing trustworthy relationships with followers and driving conversions. Furthermore, the cited studies suggest that ads featuring the right virtual influencer can even generate more positive reactions and sales than those without. However, it's important to remember that success isn't guaranteed - there have also been some notable failures. More on them below. Virtual Influencers Are Not Everyone’s Jam There's no denying that the wave of virtual influencers offers a novel perspective on digital marketing. Yet, it's far from a guaranteed recipe for success. In fact, some high-profile experiments have resulted in more backlash than brand engagement. Let’s briefly walk through some miserable examples: Mira - A Misstep for Marks & Spencer M&S, eager to resonate with a younger demographic, launched , a virtual model. Ironically, the initiative faced harsh criticism from consumers who argued the brand should champion real women, not virtual creations. Mira Venere Italia - Italy's Failed Attempt to Modernize Tourism The Italian government poured €9 million into refashioning as a stylish, contemporary virtual influencer to invigorate tourism. The campaign, however, missed the mark and faced backlash for seeming to trivialize Italy's cultural richness. Botticelli's Venus The , as many people call it. A case study in the pitfalls of over-modernization, perhaps. cringest tourist campaign Shudu & Fenty Beauty - A Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity , the brainchild of a photographer, was thrust into the spotlight when Fenty Beauty featured her donning their lipstick. Shudu Gram The move, however, ignited controversy, with critics accusing the brand of exploiting black culture for profit by using a virtual black model rather than real black models. The examples don't stop there. However, these negative reactions don't necessarily stem from the virtuality of the influencers themselves. The real issue often lies in the execution: subpar storytelling, poor communication, misaligned content, misdirected targeting, and vague messaging. Navigating revolutionary new marketing tools is akin to mastering an art form. In fact, it's less about the tool itself and more about the skilled hands that wield it. The Verdict On Virtual Influencer Marketing Mojo With virtuality posing no hindrance to a certain audience segment's engagement, and considering their superior responsiveness and entertainment value, virtual influencers can indeed be a potent force in marketing, when leveraged correctly. True, not all niche audiences are ready for this digital revolution today. However, perspectives shift with time. Think about cryptocurrencies - greeted with skepticism a decade ago, now they're part and parcel of our financial reality. The same paradigm shift could well be on the horizon for virtual influencers. Given the rising prominence of the metaverse, AI, and other digital trends, influential robots might just become our new marketing normal. The impact of virtual influencers can be two-fold - they can either skyrocket your brand's appeal or lead to its downfall. To ensure they function effectively, tons of factors need to be taken into account: targeting the right audience, crafting compelling content, delivering on entertainment, balanced promotion, etc. Once all necessary boxes are checked, their potential is significant. The identity of the influencer may become secondary if they offer genuine value. After all, if a virtual human can provide enriching insights, does it really matter whether they're real or not? So let me ask you one more question here: Do you care who influences your life, as long as they add value to it? Drop in the comments your IMOs. Interested in Cutting-Edge Digital Marketing Trends? Let's connect on or and learn from each other. LinkedIn Twitter

Virtual Influencers: Assessing Their True Marketing Impact and Ability to Bond With Followers

ভার্চুয়াল প্রভাবশালীরা: তাদের সত্যিকারের বিপণন প্রভাব এবং অনুসারীদের সাথে বন্ড করার ক্ষমতা মূল্যায়ন করা

Virtuelle Influencer: Bewertung ihrer wahren Marketingwirkung und ihrer Fähigkeit, eine Bindung zu Followern aufzubauen

Influenciadores virtuales: evaluación de su verdadero impacto de marketing y capacidad para vincularse con los seguidores

Influenceurs virtuels : évaluer leur véritable impact marketing et leur capacité à créer des liens avec les abonnés

वर्चुअल इन्फ्लुएंसर: उनके सही मार्केटिंग प्रभाव और अनुयायियों के साथ बंधन की क्षमता का आकलन करना

バーチャルインフルエンサー: 彼らの真のマーケティングへの影響力とフォロワーとの絆を築く能力を評価する

가상 영향력 행사자: 진정한 마케팅 영향력과 팔로어와의 유대 관계 평가

Influenciadores virtuais: avaliando seu verdadeiro impacto de marketing e capacidade de se relacionar com seguidores

Sanal Etkileyiciler: Gerçek Pazarlama Etkilerini ve Takipçilerle Bağ Kurma Yeteneklerini Değerlendirme

Những người có ảnh hưởng ảo: Đánh giá tác động tiếp thị thực sự của họ và khả năng gắn kết với những người theo dõi

虚拟影响者：评估他们真正的营销影响和与追随者建立联系的能力

Caribbean countries are famous for their good living conditions - beautiful climate, nature and cheerful atmosphere. However, this is not their only advantage. Few people know, but several countries in the region were the first in the world together with China and Nigeria to issue a national digital currency - the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). It was done by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), a common Central Bank for several Caribbean countries. It unites 6 independent states - St. Kitts Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and two British overseas territories - Anguilla and Montesserat. All members of the monetary union also belong to a supranational entity, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Also the associated members of OECS are British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Investment citizenship programs Issuance of CBDC in the form of XCD is not only one thing which makes Eastern Carribean interesting for crypto community. If you search in the web information about Grenada or St. Kitts Navis, you will find ads of their passports. Indeed, most countries of the region have investment programs that allow members to get citizenship. The first country that launched it was St. Kitts Nevis in 1984. Later all other Eastern Carribean countries joined the club. Except St. Vincent and the Grenadines - there is no such program there. Investment programs for citizenship in the Eastern Caribbean are much cheaper than the gold visas of European countries. To obtain citizenship under the investment program you need to donate an amount of $100,000-$150,000 to public funds or buy real estate for $250,000 or more. Such conditions of programs in St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica and Grenada. For a passport St. Kitts and Nevis minimal amount to donate is significantly higher - $250,000. But the latter country is famous as the place where Bitcoin Cash founder and crypto-entrepreneur Roger Ver virtually moved to in 2014 and has become St. Kitts Nevis resident. Another famous St. Kitts Nevis passport holder is Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who has invested $250,000 in country’s economy since leaving Russia in 2014. This messenger actively uses the cryptocurrency TON. What about crypto regulation? Almost all of these countries have crypto regulation and this fact makes them an interesting place to move in for crypto community. The ECCB has developed a common crypto-regulatory platform for member countries. and were the first to adopt it in 2020. St. Vincent and the Grenadines passed the in May 2022, Dominica , and St. Lucia in St. Kitts Nevis Antigua law in June 2022 December 2022. Grenada is the only one of the 6 countries of the Eastern Caribbean, where there is still no law on cryptocurrency, but in 2021 the founder of TRON and owner of HTX crypto exchange Justin Sun representative of the island state in the WTO. However, after the SEC has started a court case against Justin, Grenada recalled the ambassador. Actually Justin Sun is a citizen of Grenada too. became All these laws are similar - there is a definition of cryptocurrency and it is allowed to legally provide crypto exchange and other operations with it. There is also such a basic legal term defined by FATF AML rules for crypto as VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider), i.e. a company that performs transactions with cryptocurrency. According to the laws adopted in each of the five countries, such companies must be registered with the local regulator and/or Financial Intelligence Unit, if they perform the following operations: Exchange between virtual currencies Exchange of virtual currency to fiat currency Storage of virtual currencies Virtual currency transfers Issue of virtual currencies (ICOs) So, if you do any business in the field of crypto and blockchain, you can think about these countries as jurisdictions for doing business. TRON and HTX are already actively doing this - they have created a special service in Dominica. It allows HTX users to remotely issue a digital identity card through the Dominica DID (decentralized identity program). Taxation By the way, I would like to elaborate on such an issue as taxation in these countries - tax rates are lower than in most EU countries and there are no taxes on investments and dividends from foreign sources. For instance, Antigua has abolished income tax in 2016, but employees of local companies and self-employed continue to pay social payments at the rate of 15%. In general, residency in any Eastern Caribbean country can seriously reduce the tax burden, especially for people receiving capital income or dividends. Based on my research, most of these countries have no capital gain tax, at least for overseas income. However, it is better to understand the details of each jurisdiction with local accountant. Visas and residence permits If you are not interested in citizenship, but would like to live in the Eastern Caribbean for a while - for example, working remotely - then 4 of these countries have the following options: Live It Program in St. Lucia Digital Nomad Visa in Antigua Grenada Digital Nomad Visa Work in Nature Program in Dominica In addition, it is possible to come to these countries without a visa for 90 days as a tourist. Conclusion By the way, I’d like to call four key benefits that you can get moving to Carribean: Good climate and life quality Presence of crypto regulation Attractive immigration programs Relatively low tax burden

Is Eastern Caribbean a Good Place to Move to for Crypto Enthusiasts?

Today, privacy is increasingly at risk, and restrictions are common; it's vital to have tools that keep us safe and anonymous online. Proxies and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are two such tools that play a crucial role. They help hide our identity, encrypt our data, and even let us access content that might otherwise be blocked. But they're not just about staying hidden – they also have complex technical aspects, like how they encrypt information and route internet traffic. This article dives into the details of proxies and VPNs, explaining how they work in simple terms and showing how they can help us navigate the web more securely. Proxies and VPNs Proxies and VPNs stand as essential intermediaries, but their roles and functionalities are different. Proxies are between users and the internet, intercepting and forwarding requests from the user's device to online resources. They operate by masking the user's IP address, enhancing , and giving access to restricted content. privacy VPNs establish a secure, encrypted connection over the internet, creating a private network even within public networks, such as WiFis. By encrypting all transmitted data, VPNs ensure confidentiality and anonymity, shielding user information from potential eavesdroppers. Mechanisms Behind Proxies Protocols: Specializing in handling HTTP requests, HTTP proxies are optimized for web browsing activities. They intercept and forward HTTP traffic. HTTP Proxies: Designed to handle encrypted HTTP traffic, HTTPS proxies ensure secure communication with websites that implement HTTPS protocols. By intercepting and decrypting HTTPS traffic, these proxies provide an additional layer of security and privacy for users browsing sensitive websites or transmitting confidential information. HTTPS Proxies: SOCKS proxies can manage various protocols and applications beyond HTTP. They operate at a lower level of the network stack, allowing them to handle a wide range of internet traffic, including HTTP, FTP, and SMTP. This makes SOCKS proxies suitable for activities such as online gaming, file sharing, and email communication. SOCKS Proxies: SSH proxies utilize the SSH protocol to create encrypted tunnels for securely transmitting internet traffic. SSH proxies offer enhanced security and privacy, particularly when accessing sensitive resources or communicating over untrusted networks. Users can leverage SSH proxies to route their traffic through SSH servers, encrypting data transmissions and protecting against eavesdropping and tampering. SSH Proxies: These protocols are often utilized to secure communication between clients and proxy servers. SSL and TLS encryption ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted through proxies, mitigating the risk of interception or tampering by malicious entities. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security): VPN Operations VPNs leverage encryption and tunneling protocols to establish secure connections and protect user data from interception or tampering. Encryption and Tunneling: has robust security features and flexibility, OpenVPN is an open-source protocol widely used for creating VPN connections. OpenVPN: operating at the IP layer, IPSec encrypts packets to ensure secure data transmission, making it vital for VPN security. IPSec: combines the advantages of Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPSec, providing enhanced security and data integrity. L2TP/IPSec: Examples and Applications To illustrate the practical significance of proxies and VPNs, consider the following scenarios: Imagine a user residing in a country with censorship laws, attempting to access social media platforms or news websites blocked by the government. By utilizing a VPN, the user can bypass geo-restrictions and access the desired content securely and anonymously. When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks in coffee shops or airports, users expose themselves to potential security risks, including eavesdropping and data interception. By activating a VPN on their device, users can encrypt their internet traffic and protect their sensitive information from malicious actors. In essence, proxies and VPNs play indispensable roles in online privacy, anonymity, and security. By understanding their mechanisms and applications, users can navigate the web with confidence, knowing they have tools at their disposal to protect their online presence. Exploring Proxies and VPNs in Detail Proxies: Varieties and Configurations Residential vs. Data Center Proxies Residential proxies emulate authentic residential IP addresses, imbuing them with high reliability and authenticity. They are particularly valuable for tasks that demand genuine residential presence, such as social media management. Data Center Proxies Data center proxies reside within data centers, offering fast connections and scalability. However, their centralized nature makes them susceptible to detection and blocking by certain websites and services. Static vs. Dynamic IPs Static IP addresses remain consistent over time, making them ideal for applications that necessitate stable identification or access. Businesses often utilize static IPs for hosting services, remote access, and ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. Dynamic IP addresses are assigned dynamically, enhancing anonymity and complicating tracking efforts. This feature is particularly advantageous for users seeking to obfuscate their online activities or frequently change their digital fingerprints. IPv4 vs. IPv6: IPv4, the longstanding internet protocol, faces challenges stemming from the limit of available addresses. IPv6, with its expanded address space, offers a solution to address the limitations of IPv4. With a bigger number of unique IP addresses, IPv6 ensures the longevity of IP addressing and supports the growth of the internet ecosystem. VPNs: Features and Configurations Split Tunneling: It empowers users to route specific traffic through the VPN while directing other traffic directly to the internet. This flexibility optimizes performance and resource utilization, allowing users to prioritize sensitive data while conserving bandwidth for non-sensitive activities. Kill Switch: A vital component of VPN security, the kill switch automatically disconnects the user from the internet if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. By preemptively severing the connection, the kill switch prevents data leakage and protects user privacy, ensuring uninterrupted protection against potential threats. DNS Leak Protection: It is vital for preserving user privacy and anonymity. By ensuring that all DNS requests are routed through the VPN tunnel, this feature prevents DNS leaks that could compromise user privacy by inadvertently revealing their browsing activity to third parties. Use Cases, Why People Choose Proxies and VPNs Proxies and VPNs serve diverse purposes for the needs of individual users, businesses, and organizations. Accessing Geo-Restricted Content One of the primary reasons people turn to proxies and VPNs is to access geo-restricted content. For example, imagine a user residing in a country where certain streaming services or websites are inaccessible due to regional restrictions. By leveraging a VPN or proxy, the user can route their internet traffic through servers located in other regions, effectively bypassing geo-blocks and gaining access to the desired content. Security Another crucial aspect is enhancing online security. Proxies and VPNs encrypt internet traffic, thereby protecting sensitive data from interception and eavesdropping. This is particularly crucial when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the risk of data breaches is higher. For instance, consider a tourist accessing their bank account or making online purchases using public Wi-Fi at an airport. By using a VPN, they can encrypt their data, ensuring that their financial information remains secure from potential threats. Anonymous Browsing Privacy concerns are another driving factor behind the adoption of proxies and VPNs. By masking IP addresses and encrypting data transmissions, these tools enable users to browse the internet anonymously, shielding them from surveillance by ISPs, government agencies, and malicious entities. For example, a journalist working on a sensitive investigative report may use a VPN to conceal their online activities and protect their sources from potential danger. Business Applications Proxies and VPNs facilitate market research by enabling companies to gather data from different regions without revealing their true identity. Proxies and VPNs are indispensable for brand protection, ad verification, and managing multiple accounts securely. For instance, a marketing agency may utilize proxies to monitor competitor activity or verify the placement and performance of online ads across different platforms and regions. Consider a remote worker accessing their company's internal network from a coffee shop using public Wi-Fi. To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive corporate data, the worker connects to the company's VPN. This creates a secure tunnel through which all communication flows, protecting the data from interception or unauthorized access by malicious actors. Examples: Secure Remote Access: Privacy and Anonymity Matter Masking IPs A fundamental aspect of privacy protection involves masking the user's IP address. Proxies and VPNs accomplish this by substituting the user's real IP address with that of the proxy server or VPN server. By concealing their IP address, users can thwart attempts by websites and 3rd parties to track their online activities or pinpoint their geographic location. Encrypting Data VPNs employ robust encryption protocols to secure all data transmitted between the user's device and the VPN server. By encrypting this data, VPNs ensure confidentiality and integrity, thwarting attempts by malicious attackers to intercept or tamper with sensitive information. This encryption is particularly crucial when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the risk of data interception is heightened. Using Proxies and VPNs System Configuration Deploying proxies or VPNs begins with configuring them across different devices and platforms to secure all network traffic effectively. This involves: Install and configure proxy or VPN client software on computers to establish encrypted connections and route internet traffic through designated servers. Users can customize settings such as server selection, encryption protocols, and privacy features to tailor their experience. PCs and Laptops: Configure proxies or VPNs directly on routers to extend security and privacy protection to all devices connected to the network. This centralized approach ensures that all network traffic, including IoT devices and smart appliances, is encrypted and routed through the proxy or VPN server. Routers: Install and configure proxy or VPN applications on smartphones to safeguard data transmissions and protect privacy while on the go. Mobile users can enjoy seamless access to geo-restricted content and enhanced security features, such as automatic Wi-Fi protection and ad blocking. Mobile Devices: Application Integration Integrating proxies or VPNs into applications and web browsers Many applications and web browsers offer built-in support for proxies or VPNs, allowing users to configure and enable these services directly within the application settings. This simplifies the setup process and ensures that all application traffic is encrypted and routed through the proxy or VPN server while other traffic goes using your direct connection or other proxies and VPNs. Built-in Support: Users can install plug-ins or extensions to enable this functionality. They provide additional customization options and may offer features such as automatic connection on startup or per-tab proxy routing. Plug-ins and Extensions: If you want to learn more about privacy and anonymity online, read and follow or for posts and updates on these topics. my article about digital fingerprints me on LinkedIn here

Proxies, VPNs: Your Online Privacy, Anonymity and More

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