From virtual to actual destinations: do interactions with others, emotional solidarity, and destination image in online games influence willingness to travel?

The line between fantasy and reality has become blurred in online gaming, whereby tourists are willing to visit associated real-world destinations they have experienced within virtual worlds (e.g. games). This study investigates the impact of gamers’ interactions with non-player characters (NPCs) other gamers on their in-game emotional solidarity, destination image willingness destinations. Data were collected from 538 Grand Theft Auto 5 analysed using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM). Results reveal that both gamer-NPCs gamer-gamer positively solidarity NPCs gamers, respectively. Also, cognitive image. was further confirmed be affective conative These findings make a novel contribution literature gaming tourism. Game developers need develop activities promote while also designing resemble locals customs facilitate increased visitation