You can ‘remote control’ a Faroe Islander to explore the archipelago

Faroe Islanders allow travellers stuck at home with only a device for company to explore through the eyes of a local

As tourism continues its global shutdown because of coronavirus, one of the least-visited and most remote parts of Europe is offering frustrated travellers the chance to be remote tourists.

The Faroe Islands – the archipelago of 18 islands between Scotland and Iceland – is offering travellers stuck at home with only a device for company to explore the destination through the eyes of a local

A new online portal presents the opportunity to take virtual control of an islander, to go hiking, kayaking or on a helicopter trip.

Tourists are currently banned from the Faroe Islands, which normally welcomes 130,000 visitors a year.

The islands’ tourist board has now created what it claims to be the world’s first remote tourism tool.

Users who visit remote-tourism.com get the chance to take control of a local by means of a mobile, tablet or computer for an hour.

As with a real-life computer game, the player will control the moves of the Faroese islander: asking them to turn, walk, run or jump.

The local is equipped with a live video camera, allowing people to not only see views but also ensure their instructions are obeyed.

“You can explore the Faroes’ rugged mountains, see close-up its cascading waterfalls and spot the traditional grass-roofed houses,” promises the tourism board.

Moves that jeopardise the traveller’s safety are not permitted.

The virtual tours will take place once or twice daily until 25 April or later.

Gudrid Hojgaard, director of Visit Faroe Islands, said: “When the travel bans began to escalate, we wondered how we could recreate a Faroe Islands’ experience for those who had to cancel or postpone their trip to the Faroe Islands, and for everyone else stuck at home.

“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 Faroe Islands will remain closed to tourists until the end of April at the earliest.

Separately Czech Tourism and the brewer Budvar has promised to deliver “care packages” of Czech beer to UK travellers forced to cancel trips to the republic.

The offer is open to the first 500 frustrated tourists who submit evidence online of a planned journey to the Czech Republic that has been axed because of Covid-19.