Innovating Accessible Heritage Tourism: Developing a Virtual Reality Solution for Disabled Travelers at Puri Agung Karangasem

This study developed and evaluated a virtual reality (VR) application for a virtual tour of the Puri Agung Karangasem, Bali, to address physical accessibility challenges for people with disabilities. Using mixed methods, the study combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. Key findings indicate: (1) A 3D reconstruction of the palace was successfully created with 92% accuracy using photogrammetry; (2) Accessibility features such as audio description and voice control improved the SUS score to a good category; (3) There was a disparity in experience, with users with motor disabilities reporting easy navigation, while users with visual impairments required more time to adapt; (4) There was a significant 45% increase in historical understanding based on pre-post-tests; (5) Qualitative analysis revealed a strong immersive experience, although the realism of textures and lighting needs improvement. The main contributions of this study are: (1) Demonstrating the effectiveness of VR as an inclusive accessibility medium for physically inaccessible cultural heritage sites; (2) Introducing a VR implementation model that integrates universal design principles with local Balinese wisdom, including ethical considerations in digitizing sacred sites; (3) Provides empirical evidence that a multisensory (visual-audio) approach significantly enhances cultural understanding. This research contributes to the development of design standards for inclusive and sustainable heritage tourism. Recommendations for further research focus on refining haptic feedback and developing ethical guidelines for the digitization of cultural sites.