Second All-Russian Online Conference “Immersive Digital Tourism” Held in Russia
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Second All-Russian Online Conference “Immersive Digital Tourism” Held in Russia
On April 28, 2026, the second All-Russian online conference “Immersive Digital Tourism” took place. The event brought together representatives of museums, technology companies, educational institutions, and the digital immersive content industry from across Russia.
The conference was held online from 10:00 to 15:00 and became one of the country’s largest professional platforms dedicated to the implementation of virtual (VR), augmented (AR) reality technologies, and digital twins in the fields of culture, tourism, and education.
More than 600 registration applications were submitted, confirming the high level of interest in the digital transformation of the cultural and tourism sectors.
Organizers:
- Softline Venture Partners
- IT Committee of “OPORA ROSSII”
- TOURVERSE Platform
- ARTEON Non-Profit Organization
- “5senseAR” Company
Relevance of the Topic and Industry Context
In recent years, immersive content technologies have become one of the key tools for transforming the cultural and tourism industries. During the conference, experts discussed the following issues:
- Digitization of museums and cultural sites
- Creation of digital twins of historical territories
- Implementation of VR and AR in tourist routes
- Improving the accessibility of cultural heritage for people with disabilities
- Development of educational immersive scenarios in virtual environments as a supplement to traditional teaching formats
- Scaling immersive solutions at the regional and federal project levels
“Immersive technologies are now becoming the foundation of a new digital economy in the fields of culture and tourism. The topics discussed at this conference help build a professional community, unite practitioners, and accelerate the implementation of solutions that will determine the competitiveness of regions tomorrow,” noted Elena Volotovskaya, Vice President of “OPORA ROSSII” and Vice President of Softline Venture Partners.
Particular attention was paid to issues of inclusivity and compliance with new accessibility requirements for cultural institutions, making the introduction of digital technologies not just an innovation, but a necessity.
Experts noted that immersive technologies make it possible to simultaneously address the tasks of heritage preservation, audience engagement, and the creation of new monetization models for cultural content.
Strong Speaker Lineup and Practical Cases
The conference featured representatives from leading museums, technology companies, and research organizations who presented real implementations and industry cases.
“Today we are witnessing the formation of a new industry — the immersive digital tourism industry. These are not just technologies, but tools for preserving cultural heritage, improving museum accessibility, and creating a completely new user experience,” said Dmitry Trusov, co-founder and ideologist of the Tourverse project.
Key presentation areas included:
Digitization of Museum Spaces
Projects for creating multimedia pavilions, virtual tours, and digital twins of historical sites were presented. In particular, practices for implementing digital passports of cultural heritage sites and their use in restoration processes were discussed.
Immersive Technologies in Archaeology and Reconstruction
Experts presented projects for restoring historical sites based on archival data and 3D modeling, including reconstructions of cultural heritage objects and museum exhibitions.
Infrastructure for Mass VR Implementation
A separate block was dedicated to technological solutions for large-scale use of VR equipment, including mobile storage, charging, and centralized device management systems.
Immersive Audio Tours and Multimedia Routes
New approaches to creating digital audio routes using sound effects and sensory technologies were presented, providing deep immersion for visitors into the historical context.
Results and Outcomes of the Conference
Following the conference, a pool of specific topics was formed for discussion at the next Immersive Digital Tourism conference:
- Creation of a unified database of digital models of cultural sites
- Development of digital passports for monuments
- Formation of industry standards for digitization
- Launch of new joint projects between museums and technology companies
- Development of educational programs and digital platforms
Participants also expressed readiness for further cooperation and joint development of new immersive solutions.
“The interest in the conference and the active participation of specialists from across the country confirm that the immersive digital tourism industry has already been formed and is actively developing. Today it is important to unite experts, exchange experience, and establish common standards for implementing technologies in the cultural and tourism sectors,” concluded Evgeny Nadobnikov, General Director of ENDITEX LLC and Chairman of the IT Committee of the Pskov Regional Branch of “OPORA ROSSII”.
The second “Immersive Digital Tourism” conference confirmed the high interest of the professional community in the digital transformation of the industry and became an important step in building a new technological infrastructure for Russia’s cultural and tourist space.