Tourism chiefs say Scottish landscapes featured in computer games could inspire visitors to flock to see the real thing.
VisitScotland has identified a new tourism trend the “consoliday” (console-holiday). This is when people choose to experience in real life the landscapes they see them in games, or want to visit the country in which the game was conceived.
With Scotland, and Dundee in particular, having such a strong background in video games there is hope that the virtual world can deliver real economic benefits.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Scotland’s fascinating creative achievements.
“Scotland’s video games industry is a thriving, internationally acclaimed sector which punches well above its weight and is a major contributor to our country’s economy.
“We are delighted that the new consoliday trend has potential, with gamers from home and abroad heading to Scotland to discover the landscapes they’ve seen virtually, and also experience where the inspiration for many world famous games began.”
For more information on Scotland’s Year of Innovation visit www.visitscotland.com/IAD2016.