Trusting the Virtual, Traveling the Real: How Destination Trust in Video Games Shapes Real-World Travel Willingness Through Player Type Differences

As video games increasingly replicate real-world locations, they have become powerful tools influencing players’ perceptions and behaviors toward travel destinations. Based on the principles of Transfer Trust Theory (TTT), this research investigates how the trust established in a destination within a virtual game context, referred to as perceived destination trust, translates into real-world travel willingness. Using data from a survey of 262 Tunisian gamers who played games set in real-world environments, we employed a structural equation modeling approach incorporating SPSS and SmartPLS analyses. The results indicate that immersion and enjoyment of the game significantly strengthen emotional attachment and the image of the destination, thereby reinforcing perceived trust. This trust positively predicts the willingness to visit real-world destinations. Furthermore, moderation analysis reveals that this effect is more pronounced among individuals classified as Explorers and Achievers, highlighting the influence of motivational typologies on the translation of virtual behaviors into real-world actions. These results extend the scope of TTT to video game-induced tourism (VGIT), empirically validating the psychological mechanisms that link virtual trust to real-world travel behaviors. From a practical standpoint, tourism organizations and game developers are advised to collaborate on creating immersive and authentic environments that enhance destination credibility while aligning with brand objectives.