Japanese businessman Katsuo Inoue chose Italy for his summer vacation this year. He enjoyed the views of Florence and Rome - without ever leaving Tokyo. Inoue and his wife “flew” to Italy on First Airlines, a company known for entertainment, not transportation. The Tokyo-based company entered the growing virtual reality market, as people face travel restrictions because of COVID-19. “I often go overseas on business, but I haven’t been to Italy,” Inoue told the Reuters news agency. “My impression was rather good because I got a sense of actually seeing things there.” The “passengers” on First Airlines sit in the first- or business-class areas of a fake airplane. They are even shown a safety demonstration and given a life vest and oxygen mask. Workers serve meals and drinks as large screens show passing clouds and other views outside the airplane. The “travelers” then receive virtual reality eye wear that provides immersive tours of places like Paris, New York, Hawaii and Rome and other Italian cities.
