Video game-inspired tourism: A synergistic framework

The intersection of video games and tourism represents a rapidly growing phenomenon in which virtual worlds influence real-world travel behavior. Video games such as the Black Myth: Wukong serve as powerful catalysts for tourism by blending cultural pride, nostalgic storytelling, and immersive experiences. This study explores how the release of the Black Myth: Wukong spurred a surge in domestic tourism in Shanxi province, emphasizing the synergistic role of gamer experience, social media dynamics, and destination marketing initiatives. We employ a large language model (LLM)-assisted content analysis to reach the goals the study. We propose a comprehensive framework and provide insights into how cultural narratives, digital amplification, and strategic tourism initiatives converge to shape travel behavior. This synergistic framework highlights the broader sociocultural and technological contexts underpinning video game-inspired tourism, offering valuable implications for tourism scholars and practitioners.