Just 30 years ago, this was unimaginable.
Filming locations of famous movies and series often become popular tourist destinations. In recent years, something similar has been happening with places featured in popular video games. As Euronews reports, gamers are becoming an increasingly important category among tourists, shaping the demand for "gaming vacations."
Unlike tourists who visit locations from movies or series, gamers want not just to see the real location that appeared in an iconic game, but also to experience something akin to an adventure in such a place, as if recreating their gaming experience in real life.
Instead of traditional excursions with banal contemplation of famous landmarks, gamers seek emotional experiences in places connected to their passions. Such experiences can be offered by augmented reality gadgets or mobile applications that provide quests at locations related to the game.
In some cases, local authorities notice the emergence of a new specific category of tourists and try to create suitable conditions for them to attract more gamer visitors.
When it comes to the most popular tourist spots that interest gamers, this list currently looks as follows:
France: Assassin's Creed and The Witcher
Paris is already the most popular tourist destination in the world. Since it became the main setting in the popular game Assassin's Creed Unity, it has also attracted gamer tourists. Moreover, Paris hosts major video game events, such as Paris Games Week, which also contributes to the growth of gamer tourism.
The south of France served as a prototype for the fictional country of Toussaint, the setting of the "Blood and Wine" expansion of the cult game "The Witcher 3." Here, travelers can explore vineyards, hills, charming Mediterranean coastlines, and olive groves. And it really does resemble Toussaint.
USA: GTA and Far Cry
Many games take place in the United States. Cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami are particularly common. In particular, characters from the iconic Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, Watch Dogs 2, Max Payne, and others engage in their dark deeds there (or in fictional cities inspired by real American metropolises).
Those who have played Far Cry 5 and Far Cry: New Dawn are drawn to the lush landscapes of Glacier National Park in Montana, where numerous activities are also available, including boat tours on Lake McDonald.
Italy: Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy
Several Italian cities feature in the Assassin's Creed franchise. However, other well-known game series also attract gamer tourists here. For example, it is well known that the city of Altissia from Final Fantasy XV was created based on Venice. This city also inspired the creators of Tomb Raider 2.
Palmanova, a unique fortress city, inspired the creators of the game Gears of War 4.
Norway: God of War Ragnarök
Norwegian landscapes appear in various forms in many games, particularly in "The Witcher" and Assassin's Creed Valhalla. One of the most recent hits, where the plot unfolds in pseudo-Scandinavia, is the action game God of War Ragnarök.
Gamers only need to choose any stretch of the Norwegian coast to feel the spirit of Skellige. Not to mention that the in-game Lofoten has a very real prototype in the Lofoten Islands.
The volcanic island of Jan Mayen in the North Atlantic serves as a setting in the game Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Japan: The Legend of Zelda and Ghost of Tsushima
Japan appears in various forms in numerous video games: Yakuza, Persona 5, Akiba's Trip, Digimon Cyber Sleuth — just to name a few.
Modern and futuristic Japan is represented by the city of Osaka, especially the Dotonbori district. The natural mountainous landscapes of "Zelda" are the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.
And one cannot forget one of the most beautiful games of recent years — Ghost of Tsushima. The game, which allowed millions of gamers to immerse themselves in the dramatic pages of Japanese history, has sparked a real tourism boom on Tsushima Island.
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