BBC's The Traitors drives a massive 55% spike in global searches for flights to Scotland, with visitors keen to enjoy the show's beautiful Highland setting

Would you kill for a trip to Scotland? It seems like many would.

Global Google searches for 'flights to Scotland' shot back to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in the first week of January, following the return of the hit BBC reality show The traitorsfilmed near Inverness.

Travel information site Places to travel Google search data analyzed and searches returned increased by 55 percent compared to the average volume of the previous five years. It is the first time that demand has been so high since then Covid lockdown Measures will come into effect in Great Britain at the beginning of 2020.

A spokesperson for Places to Travel commented: 'You might think it's a coincidence – demand returns to natural levels over time. But Google data clearly shows a rise in flight searches in the same time frame as The Traitors return to our screens. It happened last year too, when the first season aired.'

The reality series, presented by Claudia Winkleman, shows 22 strangers fighting to win up to £120,000 in a Scottish castle by stabbing each other in the back and lying to each other. Three competitors are chosen as the titular 'Traitors' and secretly conspire to 'kill' the other 19, known as the 'Believes'.

Searches for Ardross Castle (above) – the grand Scottish castle where the show is filmed – and 'The Traitors' have increased at the same time

Watch out, there's a killer on the loose: the second season of The Traitors UK is currently airing

The series, produced by the BBC, is extremely popular and attracted an average of 5.4 million viewers in its first season.

The second season is currently airing and appears to be once again driving demand for a Highland getaway: sThe search for 'Ardross Castle' – the grand Scottish castle where the show is filmed – and 'The Traitors' have increased at the same time.

Searches for 'Ardross Castle' – a 19th-century castle in the Scottish Baronial style – have increased by 4,500 percent compared to the previous five-year average. Searches peaked in the weeks when seasons one and two premiered.

In addition to brain games, participants take part in a series of physical challenges and 'escape room' style competitions, which serve to showcase the spectacular Scottish landscape of the Highlands. Ardross Castle is surrounded by over 100 hectares of land, stretching down to the River Alness.

Ardross is also the setting of the US version of The Traitors, which launched on the streaming platform Peacock in 2023, hosted by Alan Cumming. It features several famous participants.

The Traitors features 22 strangers fighting to win up to £120,000. Three competitors are chosen as the titular 'Traitors' and secretly conspire to 'kill' the other 19, known as the 'Believers'.

The US Traitors was also filmed at Ardross Castle (interior pictured above) and features famous contestants. This season features former Speaker of the House John Bercow (pictured above, third from right) and is currently streaming on Peacock

The second season of The States debuted on January 12. It features former Speaker of the House John Bercow and Love Island star Ekin-Su Culculoglu.

Over the past thirty days, search interest for the terms 'flights to Scotland', 'Ardross Castle' and 'The Traitors' came from the same countries: Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the United States.

The Places To Travel spokesperson added: 'TV tourism is becoming increasingly common, with viewers wanting to visit the filming locations of their favorite programmes. It is effective because the locations are carefully selected for the show, but are not directly advertised so users do not feel like they are being sold to.

'It seems to be driven by a desire to immerse themselves in the show's filming location, or it could simply be that the program has inspired people to travel somewhere they'd never thought of before.'