Cybersickness in metaverse travel

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Cai, Wenjie, McKenna, Brad and Williams, Nigel (2025) Cybersickness in metaverse travel. Current Issues in Tourism. ISSN 1368-3500

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Abstract

While the Metaverse promises transformative tourism experiences, the physiological challenge of cybersickness presents a significant barrier to inclusive adoption. This conceptual paper defines cybersickness in the Metaverse as a condition integrated into the virtual tourism experience itself, operating through locomotion, immersion duration, and perceived motion, rather than a transit issue. We develop a theoretical framework, comprising an Affordance Duality Matrix and a four-dimensional process model, that synthesises Affordance Theory with Sensory Conflict and Postural Instability theories. A key contribution is identifying the temporal paradox where features enabling high-fidelity immersion transition into physiological constraints over time. Furthermore, the framework synthesises these established theories by showing that specific technological designs determine whether conflict leads to instability via sequential or feedback-looped pathways. Finally, the research posits that cybersickness creates a biological digital divide, excluding vulnerable populations based on neurological tolerance. We conclude by advocating for user-centric design to ensure inclusive Metaverse tourism.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: metaverse,affordance theory,cybersickness,postural instability theory,sensory conflict theory,virtual world,geography, planning and development,tourism, leisure and hospitality management ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3305
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Innovation, Technology and Operations Management
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 08 Dec 2025 15:32
Last Modified: 29 Dec 2025 17:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101311
DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2025.2600433

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