In a bid to enhance cultural preservation and education, Rwandan museums have adopted the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to give both local and international visitors an opportunity to explore the country's history from anywhere in the world.

Launched on Saturday, August 30 in partnership with Innorios, a local tech company that focuses on implementing VR solutions, the new project aims to make cultural exploration more accessible and engaging.

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It will provide two distinct types of virtual tours: - a self-guided 360 degrees’ virtual tour accessible via smartphones and computers, and a more immersive VR experience using headsets.

"Imagine stepping into the Ethnographic Museum in Huye without leaving your living room. The self-guided virtual tour allows users to navigate through the museum’s exhibits at their own pace. With just a few clicks, visitors can move from one section to another, explore artefacts in stunning 3D detail,” said Musa Shumbusho, Founder of Innorios.

Various historical and heritage sites from different parts of the country will be featured on the project.

"It's as if you are physically there, wandering through the museum’s halls, but with the added convenience of exploring at your own speed,” Shumbusho pointed out.

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With the VR headset experience, viewers will have a 360 degrees’ view, and a guided narration in multiple languages including sign language.

This is not the first time that Rwanda is using VR technology in its tourism sector. For instance, four years ago, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced that it was bringing the country’s mountain gorilla trekking experience to people’s living rooms through VR.

Across the world, the VR industry is growing at a fast pace, with the global VR market size projected to increase from less than $12 billion in 2022 to more than $22 billion by 2025.