The Metaverse will introduce new possibilities for the tourism industry to create interactive experiences for tourists. This paper explores the potential of Metaverse technology to provide immersive and engaging experiences for tourists, and the challenges and opportunities that this technology presents. A quantitative approach was adopted, and a questionnaire form was developed. The sample size was 243 tourists, who were randomly selected. The data were analyzed using SPSS (26) software. The findings suggest that the Metaverse has the potential to transform the tourism industry by enhancing the tourism experience and creating lasting memories for visitors. The effectiveness of interactive experiences in the Metaverse is influenced by several factors including user engagement, personalization, authenticity, and immersion. Tourist behavior and motivations in the Metaverse are driven by a desire for novelty, escapism, social interaction, learning, and engagement with brands. The study also highlights the need for addressing security and privacy concerns and providing users with more control over their personal information. The study recommends several strategies to leverage the potential of the Metaverse in the tourism industry, including collaboration, ethical and social considerations, and evaluating the impact of Metaverse experiences. The study also recommends developing clear privacy policies, implementing strict regulations, educating users on security and privacy, and incorporating privacy-enhancing technologies to protect user data and enhance user privacy. https://jaauth.journals.ekb.eg / interactions with virtual environments, digital objects and people such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)". The Metaverse is described as a virtual shared space that combines virtual reality, augmented reality, and the internet (Damar,2021, P.1) .In Metaverse, Humans-as-avatars interact with each other in an immersive world in the Metaverse. The Metaverse is accessed by computer terminals that display virtual reality. Users can create their avatars, Travel, construct virtual real estate they have sold and bought, and engage in the entire spectrum of human social and instrumental activities. As a result, the Metaverse is more of an open-ended digital culture that exists alongside the physical domain than a gaming with particular restrictions and aims (Dionisio, et al.2013 ;Kim and Hall, 2019) .
Historical development of the Concept of MetaverseThe Metaverse is a virtual world that allows users to interact with each other and the environment in a simulated environment. It has its roots in science fiction, with the concept first introduced in Neal Stephenson's novel "Snow Crash" in 1992. However, the idea of a shared virtual world where users could interact with each other and the environment goes back even further (virtual and whitepaper, 2021).The first instance of a shared virtual world was created in the 1970s at the University of Illinois. The system, called PLATO, was used for educational purposes and ...