Google And Singapore Tourism Board to Bring Location-Based AR Experiences to Google Maps for The First Time

Singapore, 16 May 2024 – Announced at Google I/O 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Google will be expanding on its partnership to create more Augmented Reality (AR) experiences, which will be directly available on Google Maps for the first time. STB is one of two institutions globally to join a pilot program that will bring immersive AR experiences in Singapore directly into Google Maps later this summer. 

This partnership builds upon the success of Merli’s Immersive Adventure – an innovative AR tour to six enchanting stops around Singapore through STB’s Visit Singapore Travel Guide app launched in January this year. Powered by Google’s ARCore and Geospatial Creator, the tour follows Singapore’s tourism mascot, Merli, as he guides visitors to iconic spots such as the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall, Fullerton Hotel and Maxwell Food Centre. 

Discovering local landmarks through AR on Google Maps:

AR experience of Maxwell Food Centre and Somerset Precinct via Lens in Maps

As part of this pilot, STB will continue to use Google’s ARCore and Geospatial Creator to develop new location-based AR experiences. Unlike before when STB’s AR experiences were made available only on its travel app, these new AR experiences can soon be discovered and enjoyed entirely within the Google Maps mobile app, one of two cities in which these experiences will be available. Moreover, STB has also onboarded over a dozen other tourism stakeholders in Singapore to join the pilot, who themselves will also develop location-based AR experiences. These stakeholders include retail malls along Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping belt, local heritage businesses in Chinatown and popular museums and attractions. Together, there will be 30 places of interests with AR experiences, creating an immersive journey across key tourism precincts in Singapore. 

These include a unique blend of multicultural neighbourhoods, iconic architecture and delicious cuisine such as Chinatown, the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Sensoryscape, and many more. Whether one wants to watch the ceremonial dragon dance at Chinatown or view the local dishes they can try at the Maxwell Food Centre, there is a wide range of AR experiences they can access to embark on an immersive journey across Singapore.

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay viewed remotely via Street View

Chinatown Visitor Centre viewed on-site via Lens in Maps

With this expansion, the AR content will now be visible remotely via Street View on the Google Maps mobile app for a seamless and accessible experience regardless of location. Users near the landmarks can also discover the AR content on their mobile devices by scanning their surroundings using Lens in Maps, as it overlays the physical surroundings in the real world. This will be helpful for visitors planning their trips to Singapore, and navigating the island through AR tours when they are in the country. 

The full experience will be available on Google Maps later this Summer. STB plans to further grow the number of location-based AR experiences in Google Maps beyond 30, building on its goal of making Singapore the world’s first “AR City” in Google Maps. 

Eric Lai, Group Product Manager, AR said, “In collaboration with local partners like STB, we're thrilled to unlock a new way for people to interact, engage and discover Singapore's vibrant culture and history on Google Maps. Through location-based AR experiences, we're making it more intuitive for over a billion users to discover this iconic city in a way like never before. This is just the beginning of a journey that will reshape how we explore the world."

Simon Ang, Director, The Collaboratory, Singapore Tourism Board said: “We are excited to extend our partnership with Google to bring even more immersive and innovative experiences to travellers through AR on Google Maps. This partnership underscores STB’s dedication to testing the use of frontier technologies which can revolutionise the visitor’s experience of tomorrow. This pilot greatly benefits local businesses, who can leverage AR to tell different stories over the same spaces, and have their content discoverable and accessible on Google Maps. It also benefits travellers as it aids their discovery of new places of interest, and enriches them with a deeper understanding of Singapore’s rich history and culture through interactive storytelling. STB is committed to embracing technology to enhance the visitor experience and differentiate Singapore from other destinations."

Annex: List of places of interests in Singapore to be the first with AR experiences on Google Maps.

-END-

About Google

Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Android, Google Play, Chrome, YouTube, Google Workspace, and Google Cloud, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.