The incredible landscapes of the Faroe Islands would have any traveler eager to jump on the next flight there - but with international travel curtailed, the far-flung North Atlantic islands have come up with a creative new way to help would-be visitors explore virtually.
Using a new digital tourism tool, travellers can be paired up with a local Faroese islander who will be their avatar on the ground, taking them on a live virtual tour of the islands. Locals will be equipped with live video cameras, allowing at-home travelers to see through their eyes and even control where and how they explore. According to Visit Faroe Islands: “Just like a real-life computer game, the main player will control the moves of the Faroese islanders, who will not only explore locations on foot, but also take to the skies by helicopter, giving the virtual visitors a bird’s eye perspective on this beautiful island nation’s steep grassy slopes, its 80,000 sheep, its endless seascapes and its unspoilt, wild and natural countryside”.
The virtual tours will kick off 15 April, running once or twice daily for the next 10 days. The Visit Faroe Islands tourist board team will also be online in real-time on Instagram and Facebook Live to answer questions for participants as well as to share their knowledge about what to visit when the islands reopen to travel.
With 18 major islands and just under 50,000 people, the sparse and beautiful destination is ready for wanderlusters with cabin fever to explore without leaving home. Guðrið Højgaard, Director of Visit Faroe Islands, said in a statement: “We believe that our remote islands are the perfect place to inspire people in lockdown – and, naturally, we hope to welcome them in person once everyone is free to travel again.”
The Faroes are closed to tourists until the end of April at the earliest. The impact of COVID-19 has been limited, as the islands have the highest testing rate per capita in the world. To experience the Faroe Islands as a virtual tourist through a local’s eyes, go to remote-tourism.com.
