'Traitors Effect' triggers rise in rail and air passengers to Highlands as Ross-shire set reality BBC TV show grips nation
A train travel booking website has credited BBC smash hit The Traitors with a rise in the number of people travelling by rail to the Highlands.
People looking for air travel deals to the region have also risen in recent days.
The series, which returns to the screens tonight, is set at Ardross Castle and has had added spice for locals this year with the inclusion of two people living in the Highlands taking part.
And the beauty of Ross-shire and the surrounding Highlands has not been lost on an audience of millions with many now making travel plans after being inspired by what they see.
Trainline, an app and website that lets people book train journeys all over the UK, said the debut season of the show led to a 25 per cent increase in the number of people booking trips to Inverness through them.
And they are optimistic of further interest in Inverness and other Highland rail destinations following the runaway success of series two, which is under way now and drawing millions of viewers each episode.
Trainline believes this popularity has led to a Traitors effect, that has beld into people's everyday lives, after the website saw a 25 per cent increase in bookings to Inverness in January 2023 compared to January 2022, as fans planned to travel by train to where the action took place.
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Sakshi Anand, VP of growth and UK GM, from Trainline, said; “We know a cultural phenomenon like The Traitors can influence where people decide to travel. With season two in full swing, now is the time to book your train tickets to Inverness, as we are confident it will become a trending destination once again for 2024. Arriving by train is the perfect way to take in the stunning countryside of the Scottish Highlands.”
Searches for air travel to the Highlands - arriving at Inverness Airport – have also spiked according to search engine data.
The introduction to the show included spectacular scenic shots of the Highlands and footage of train journeys.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, 22 hopefuls stay at the 19th-century Ardross Castle, near Alness, deceiving each other in the hopes of winning up to £120,000.
