With this year’s Oscars just around the corner, travel experts Wego have given us an insight into the impact film has on where travelers flock to.
In fact, film settings have such an impact on the number of tourists going there, that filmmakers have started working with tourism boards with this in mind.
Joachim Holte of Wego says: “Today’s traveler seeks inspiration and unique experiences; destinations that tell a story and capture the imagination. Both destination marketers and filmmakers have recognized that film-induced tourism caters to the growing desire of travelers seeking out the more unusual destinations and experiences.”
“Today’s travelers see themselves as explorers,” Holte adds, “they dig deeper into destinations than they did in the past and feel emotionally linked to destinations they’ve experienced on the big screen.”
After Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson, was released in 1995, there was a 300 percent increase in the number of visitors to Scotland, while The Crown Hotel in Amersham, England, featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral, was fully booked for three years following the movie’s release.
Iceland was the latest to benefit in tourism from this phenomenon, with Ben Stiller’s wildly successful The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Singapore Tourism Board have jumped on this opportunity, investing $6.3 million from the ‘Film in Singapore’ scheme, to subsidize international film productions, that are filmed here, by up to 50 percent.
So, where will be next on travelers’ agendas across the globe? We just need to stayed tuned to the latest movie releases to find out.
