Every traveler knows how bittersweet the end of a trip can be. Only a few days ago, they may have been exploring the French Quarter in Paris or the Great Wall in China, and now they are back home. Without a ticket in their hand to the next great adventure, the globetrotter may feel life is pretty ordinary. What if, however, they could visit two different destinations every other week for just a few dollars? Enter Discover Live. Over the past seven years, thanks to the company’s remarkable expertise in real-time virtual tour guiding and stellar industry reputation, more than 100,000 world travelers have been exploring the nooks and crannies of the Earth – Egypt, Peru, France, Italy, or many others. Wherever their curiosity leads them, students, families, co-workers, and older adults are taking interactive, real-time virtual tours with local guides. It is all possible through the special nexus of technology and humanity’s curiosity about the incredible world they live in.
Discover Live is the brainchild of Jason Wei, who is on a mission to democratize awe and connection for adventurous souls worldwide. A lifelong lover of far-flung adventure and captivating cultures, he was inspired to connect millions of people through live virtual travel while he was working overseas in London.
“I have always been concerned about the divisions among us, so many of which are caused by misunderstandings and lack of opportunities to learn from each other,” he explains. “While I was abroad, I was struck by the potential of virtual tools, which can help facilitate profound yet low-friction connections. And yes, I was one of those people who was glad to return home at the end of a trip but still missed the excitement of exploring a new country. I envisioned leveraging live video to transport people to anywhere in the world in real time. It would be a remarkable opportunity for them to immerse themselves in exotic locales and certainly more uplifting than static content.”
“We learned a lot from the live virtual tours we have delivered. First, there is a real demand for authentic experiences, all without leaving the comfort of your home or needing a passport,” Jason reflects. “And second, live virtual travel can collapse borders. You can now go anywhere your wanderlust takes you because of advances in technology.”
Over the past seven years, Discover Live has been beaming real-time guided tours from over 200 incredible destinations straight to people’s devices through Zoom, WebEx, Teams, or Meet. Travelers have stepped into Venice’s Carnival festival, gone window-shopping in Milan’s glamorous Fashion District, climbed the Great Wall to see the sunrise, visited holiday markets in Berlin, and learned about coffee and its community impact at a plantation in Costa Rica. With each live virtual trip, Discover Live is bringing the world closer together and allowing shared moments to resonate more deeply.
Jason and his team believe that one of the biggest impacts Discover Live is making is on people who would otherwise be shut out of travel. “Whether because of mobility or health issues, financial limitations, or lack of time, too many individuals who would love to explore Earth simply cannot,” he explains. “It makes us very happy that through Discover Live, we can eliminate those barriers and make exploration much more inclusive.”
In 2024, Discover Live will be rolling out more industry-firsts for virtual travelers, including the ability to allow any language speaking person to take on tours delivered in any language. As Jason says, the desire to visit fascinating destinations is universal, so he and his team are thrilled to be empowering people to expand their view of the world.
“At Discover Live, we are excited about our plans for the coming year, when we will continue to take virtual travelers to the destinations they have dreamed of visiting,” Jason reveals. “We are committed to using technology to challenge assumptions and foster an environment where anyone can satisfy their curiosity. We want everyone to feel alive and be engaged global citizens as they visit awe-inspiring places and learn how connected we all really are.”
Discover Live has been pioneering and specializing in live virtual-tour delivery since 2017. Through interactive, real-time guided virtual tours, travelers can immerse themselves in the world’s most fascinating destinations. Families, friends, seniors, language learners, people with disabilities, and organizations are finding joy as they rediscover the planet and different cultures without borders or barriers. To learn more about Discover Live’s sensory-friendly journeys and become part of a global community of adventurous travelers, please visit www.Discover.live.
