Can a video game plan your next family trip? These kids think so

There’s a first for everything, including when your child confesses that they’d love to see New Zealand because of (brace for it) Minecraft. 

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​​Yes, Minecraft. The blocky, wildly popular sandbox game where players build, create, and explore endlessly. It’s captured the hearts of kids all over the world, and now, it’s inspiring travel plans too.

Thanks to a clever collaboration with A Minecraft Movie, Minecraft has added a new layer of exploration. Kids can now wander through virtual versions of real-life New Zealand, from the magical glowworm caves in Waitomo to the bubbling geothermal pools of Rotorua. It’s immersive, curiosity-sparking, and for many Aussie families, it’s becoming the first step in planning a real-world adventure.

Because here’s the thing: now they want to go for real.

Welcome to the world of virtual voyagers  –  kids who explore the world first through their games, then bring that curiosity into the living room with one very persuasive question: Can we go there?

Gaming is shaping travel decisions

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According to recent research from Flight Centre and Tourism New Zealand, 26% of travellers have booked a trip after seeing a destination inside a video game. That number jumps when looking at younger generations, who are naturally more digitally immersed. The same research shows 48% of active gamers already use games as travel inspiration.

Games like Minecraft create a sense of connection to a place, even in block form. Studies show gaming environments can build emotional bonds and even trigger nostalgia for locations players haven’t even visited in real life. 

When kids spend time exploring a place virtually, they’re forming a mental map, building emotional context, and feeling a real sense of place.

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The rise of kid travel planners

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We’re long past the days of kids being passive passengers on family trips. Gen Alpha is curious, informed, and surprisingly vocal. They’ve watched travel vlogs, built digital cities, and explored interactive maps, often before they’ve even left the country.

According to an American Express study, 68% of Millennial and Gen Z parents now include their children in holiday planning. And a further 70%, according to Hilton’s Gen Alpha & Family Travel Study, consider their kids’ preferences when choosing a destination.

And while that might raise a few practical concerns (are you signing up for seven days of theme parks?), involving kids doesn’t mean giving up control — it means giving them a voice. And turns out, there are some real perks to it.

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Why involving kids in travel planning actually works

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Giving kids a say can actually lead to some pretty great outcomes (and no, not just a Minecraft pilgrimage). It gets them thinking through options, tossing up ideas, and even learning how to compromise. Those are great for critical thinking, social development, and decision-making.

They’ll often surprise you, too. A quick Google and suddenly they’re telling you all about glowworms, how a geyser works, or suggesting a detour to a wildlife sanctuary because they read about it online. 

And here’s the best part — when kids feel involved, they’re way more on board with the whole trip. Less resistance, less complaining and fewer eye rolls… you get the gist. 

They’re excited because they helped shape the plan. That sense of ownership goes a long way.

It turns the trip into something you built together. 

 

How the industry is responding

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The tourism industry is catching on to Gen Alpha’s travel influence. 

In response to the success of A Minecraft Movie and its New Zealand scenery, Flight Centre has partnered with Tourism New Zealand to offer deals and Minecraft-inspired itineraries that tap into kids’ excitement for destinations they’ve explored virtually.

Meanwhile, Hilton predicts that “kidcations”, holidays shaped by children’s passions, will continue to grow as a travel category in 2025 and beyond

And with multigenerational travel on the rise, planning holidays that genuinely cater to everyone (yes, including the Minecraft fan) is becoming the norm.

So… should kids help plan the holiday?

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In short: yes, within reason. Letting your child suggest a destination they’ve explored virtually can be a great way to encourage deeper engagement, better bonding, and surprisingly educational moments.

And if it gets everyone excited to ditch the screens for the real world and see those glowworms, paddle those rivers, or feel that geothermal heat in Rotorua, then why not?

Sometimes, the best way to bring a family together is to start where they already are: playing, exploring, imagining, and now, planning.