It is an extension of Google Street View that allows internet users to view and surf inside the business with a 360º panoramic perspective. The presentation took place this morning and was given by the minister of Tourism and the Environment, Francesc Camp, and the secretary of State for Economic Diversification, Josep Maria Missé.
The Actua Initiative has obtained official Google accreditation and will take the photographs, computer process them and upload them to the network free of charge for the businesses. Without this agreement, each business would have had to contact Google and cover the cost of the photography and production.
Actua has also undertaken to train and accredit the photographers hired within the framework of the temporary work programme benefitting the collective. A total of four professionals spread across the country are to work during the next six months to make the project a reality.
At yesterday’s presentation, the first demonstration was given of the power of this new tool by means of a virtual tour of Andorra Telecom’s commercial offices.
Josep Maria Missé explained the advantages of Google Business Photos such as digital presence in the main maps tool, the dissemination of the business via new channels and the possibility of interacting with customers.
And, with regard to the specific advantages for the country’s establishments, mention was made of the improvement of trade in the virtual environment helping it stand out above the other markets and strengthening the Actua and smart country brands.
The minister of Tourism and the Environment expressed his satisfaction at the fact that Google considers Andorra as being “a reference country” in its strategy at international level. In this sense, the secretary of State for Economic Diversification noted that the Principality will be “the first country where all small businesses will be introduced” using this technological tool, without forgetting larger businesses.
Camp recalled the recent images taken of the ski resorts via Google Snow Mobile, which will be accessible on the network in the coming months and which will make it possible to continue promoting the image of Andorra, a process which got underway last year with the introduction of Google Street View.