Great Barrier Reef unveils 3D app for agents

By Hannah Edensor

News about the Great Barrier Reef has, as of late, been causing some despair among TW staffers.

That’s why when we hear positive GBR news we’re pretty thrilled.

And this latest announcement has made us as enthused as when we heard about the Finding Dory movie.

So what’s the news?

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Well, people wanting to travel to the Great Barrier Reef will get a three-dimensional look at the Reef sites they can visit with an innovative augmented reality brochure launched by Cairns operator Passions of Paradise.

And, if that’s not the coolest sentence we write all week, we’re not sure what will be.

Passions of Paradise Chief Executive Officer Scotty Garden said the technology had been developed by Cairns Creatives to provide an interactive experience for potential customers that travel agents could use at tour desks.

“A free smartphone app is used to trigger a video overlay of the brochure images making them come alive to reveal the marine life at several of the sites the Passions of Paradise catamaran visits,” Garden said.

“A 3D model of the 25m high-performance Passions catamaran can be explored and there will be insider tips on enjoying the Great Barrier Reef.

“We are also using the technology on our business cards so clients can see a 3D image of a turtle when they look at our contact details.”

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Cairns Creatives owner Ben Lewis developed the app and the three-dimensional modelling while designing the brochure for Passions of Paradise.

A keen diver, the graphic designer wanted to use the wow factor of the Great Barrier Reef as a selling tool for travel agents.

“I like playing with new technologies, animation and underwater videos so the three came together when I was wondering how to make the Passions brochure more useful for people deciding which Reef trip to take,” Lewis said.

“Users download the Passions AR app from the App Store to enhance the brochures and business card content which is then displayed as 3D models on iOS devices, appearing to sit directly on the printed content.

“I am currently developing the Android version so all smartphone users can interact with the brochures.”

Mr Garden said the brochures would be distributed in Tropical North Queensland from April 1 and would be launched at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Adelaide on April 15.

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Passions of Paradise visits two unique outer Great Barrier Reef sites daily where passengers can dive and snorkel with diverse marine life in coral gardens before sailing back to Cairns.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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