VOA慢速英语--日本游客尝试虚拟度假

Japanese businessman Katsuo Inoue chose Italy for his summer vacation this year. He enjoyed the views of Florence and Rome - without ever leaving Tokyo.

Inoue and his wife "flew" to Italy on First Airlines, a company known for entertainment, not transportation. The Tokyo-based company entered the growing virtual¹ reality market, as people face travel restrictions² because of COVID-19.

"I often go overseas on business, but I haven't been to Italy," Inoue told the Reuters news agency³. "My impression was rather good because I got a sense of actually seeing things there."

The "passengers" on First Airlines sit in the first- or business-class areas of a fake⁴ airplane. They are even shown a safety demonstration⁵ and given a life vest and oxygen mask. Workers serve meals and drinks as large screens show passing clouds and other views outside the airplane.

The "travelers" then receive virtual reality eye wear that provides immersive tours of places like Paris, New York, Hawaii and Rome and other Italian cities.

Japan has recorded over 50,000 coronavirus infections and just over 1,000 deaths. Those numbers come from the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. A second wave of infections starting in July has stopped most travel in and out the country.

The country's biggest airline, ANA Holdings, said the numbers of passengers flying to foreign countries fell by 96 percent in June. And the International Air Transport Association⁶ (IATA) predicted last month that it would take until the year 2024 for international travel to recover.

But First Airlines says business has increased by 50 percent since the start of the coronavirus restrictions.

Its president, Hiroaki Abe, said, "We get some customers who normally⁷ travel to Hawaii every year and they can experience some of that here."

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

view - n. the things that can be seen from a particular place

impression - n. the effect or influence that something or someone has on a person's thoughts or feelings

fake - adj. meant to look real or genuine⁸ but not real or genuine

mask - n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

vest - n. a special piece of clothing that you wear on your upper body for protection or safety

screen - n. the usually flat part of a television or computer monitor that shows the images or text

immersive - adj. relating to digital technology or images that actively⁹ involve one's senses

customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

1 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

4 fake   

vt.伪造，造假，假装；n.假货，赝品

参考例句：

• He can tell a fake from the original.他能分辨出赝品和真品。
• You can easily fake up an excuse to avoid going out with him.你可以很容易地编造一个借口而不与他一同外出。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

7 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

8 genuine   

adj.真的，非人造的；真诚的，真心的

参考例句：

• On further examination it was found that the signature was not genuine.经过进一步的调查发现签名不是真的。
• As time went on,a genuine friendship grew up between us.随着时间的推移，我们之间产生了一种真挚的友情。

9 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。