Virtual tourism and the digitization of cultural heritage.

We have three years of experience in digitization, integrating the latest global technologies at the tourism and cultural hub, kyivcityguide.

1. Digitization of Routes and Tourist Locations.
We apply voice technology and create audio guides in two languages. Tourists explore the city best through well-developed professional routes. Since visitors don't want to read a lot, it’s better to present information in the form of audio guides, photo and video content, 360-degree panoramas, and virtual tours. This approach is especially relevant during wartime and in barrier-free spaces in the city. Audio guides in two languages are convenient to listen to on mobile devices. We’ve also installed informational stands with QR codes at top locations, allowing visitors to access pages about the locations and listen to audio guides while immersing themselves in the city’s panoramas.

We have digitized inclusive tourism sites in partnership with experts from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (museums, hotels, etc.).

2. Creation of Top Lists and Descriptions of Locations and Ambassadors.
We have created up-to-date lists of locations in English. This makes it convenient for our foreign tourists to familiarize themselves with and plan visits to recreational spots, while locals can access useful information on where to unwind in these challenging times, such as a list of places for rejuvenation. We also gathered insights from top thought leaders about where to go in Kyiv, receiving thorough feedback and recommendations that will help expand our service offerings and attract attention by involving ambassadors at these locations.

3. Service Improvement - FAQs.
We developed a module that allows interactive content to answer tourists’ and residents' questions quickly and conveniently. By clicking a button and selecting a question, users can receive quick answers when they need information about where to find a pharmacy, consulate, restroom, bike or e-scooter rental, and more. This way, a vast amount of infrastructural content added to the site becomes even more accessible.

4. Consolidation: Tourism Associations.
We have also engaged with market stakeholders. Now, the hub features a list of companies offering excursion services for groups and individual tourists.

5. Entertainment - Very Important for Distraction.
We added a quest where users can follow a route and be transported to the early 20th century to answer questions. One of the questions involves augmented reality, where users can view a model of a Kyiv resident with a pocket watch. During the creation process, we came up with many more interesting ideas we’d like to implement.

6. Historical Facts for Learning Heritage and Establishing Historical Justice.
The special project "Tree of Kyiv History" includes augmented reality elements. We created an interactive page where users can learn about the personalities who shaped both the history of our city and the country as a whole. With the support of the Museum of Ukrainian History, we established the tree of Kyiv history, utilizing augmented reality technology. Tourists can take photos with Yaroslav the Wise. The main idea is to demonstrate the depth of our history and show that Kyiv is the cradle of Europe.

7. Augmented Reality and Historical Reconstruction.
Our favorite section, reflecting trends and modern technologies, is augmented reality. We created models to assist tour guides in making tours more engaging, providing guests with a wow effect during their visit. We worked on 11 projects. Historical reconstruction showcases elements that can’t be seen in real life, such as the Lydian Gate and the Kyiv City Council—legendary sites that allow visitors to feel the spirit of history and showcase our city’s centuries-old narrative of struggle and triumph in a contemporary format.

8. Virtual Tours.
In partnership with a Google photographer, we created fantastic tours that allow people to explore Kyiv online, even under the conditions imposed by the aggressor. We even ventured into the drainage system, filmed the Hanenko Museum empty and atmospheric (historical footage, as it was during World War II), and captured Sofiiska Square during a demonstration with destroyed equipment, which is now part of history. This will remain interesting for both Ukrainians and tourists in the context of developing military tourism.

9. Significant Work with Museums under Municipal Jurisdiction.
We have created dedicated sections with visualizations about them, allowing for future adjustments.

10. Foundation for a Model of Digitizing Regional Tourist Destinations.
We have established a foundation for a model of digitizing regional tourist destinations for cross-platform promotion of digital tourism products and public-private partnerships in implementing the best innovative solutions in Ukraine’s tourism sector.