Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a transformative technology reshaping tourist experiences globally, yet limited research exists on tourists’ awareness, familiarity, and actual use of VR in developing economies. This study investigated the level of awareness and familiarity with VR technologies among tourists at selected recreation centres in Southwest Nigeria and examined the types and extent of VR use at these sites. A structured questionnaire was administered to tourists who had completed VR sessions at seven recreation centres across Lagos, Oyo, and Osun States, generating 385 valid responses that were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that 82% of respondents had previously heard of VR, while 48.6% rated themselves as very familiar with the technology. Approximately 66% had used VR before visiting the centres, with 36% describing their prior use as frequent. Gaming constituted the dominant application both in the past (46.2%) and on-site (48%), followed by general recreation (40% on-site), with education and tourism applications remaining comparatively limited. A substantial majority (66.2%) strongly agreed that prior awareness of VR influenced their decision to visit the centres. The study concludes that awareness and familiarity with VR among tourists in Southwest Nigeria are relatively high and serve as significant drivers of patronage at VR recreation centres. However, VR continues to be used predominantly for gaming rather than tourism-oriented or educational purposes. Recommendations urge recreation centre operators and tourism stakeholders to reposition VR as a genuine tourism product rather than solely an entertainment device.