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LMGI COMPASS
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Fall 2019
Set-Je ing:
The practice of visiting places used as
fi lming locations in movies and television production
I
n choosing destinations to advance the narrative, location professionals create an
ever-increasing side(ways) effect on tourism known as "location vacations." Location
tourism is big business, driving tourism development in many destinations around the
world. Production, film commissions, tourism and location partners who have adapted
some of the most successful visitor campaigns address the benefits of the economic
impact of on-location filming—the gift that keeps giving.
The tents are down, the trucks are wrapped. Maybe there will be a local premiere to plan, but for now,
it's time to devote your attention to other projects, marketing and reports, right? Well ... maybe not so
fast... Screen tourism is a billion-dollar industry. Thousands of travelers circle the globe every year to
visit their favorite movie and television show locations—and their numbers are growing. According to a
2018 report from the Louisiana Offi ce of Tourism, nine percent of visitors were infl uenced by Louisiana
productions to see sites they viewed in a fi lm or TV show. That translates to millions of dollars generated
by screen tourism. Savvy fi lm, tourism and historic preservation offi ces, as well as tour operators and
merchants are all working in concert to capitalize on this booming industry.
Many fi lm and tourism offi ces have online maps or articles featuring their fi lming locations. LMGI fi lm
offi ce partners Nevada, Oahu, Valencia, Humboldt-Del Norte, Savannah and Monterey County offer
information on their websites. Nevada provides information on movie/TV location tour operators.
Hawaii has also capitalized on fi lm tourism with various private operators giving location tours from
popular productions, including Jurassic Park, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Lost and Hawaii Five-
0. New Mexico even has a Breaking Bad-themed fi lm tourism initiative encouraging local chambers,
cities, tribes and their local businesses to participate with their fi lm tourism web page. "Breaking Bad
launched the screen tourism business in Albuquerque," says New Mexico Film Offi ce Director Todd
Christensen. "We hope that as productions move to other scenic and unique parts of the state, fi lm
fans will discover more New Mexico areas to explore ... that have a fi lm history, as well as historical
and cultural attractions for tourists." These tools are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the
potential economic impact produced by location fi lming.
by Judy Schultz
Photo
by
Oliver
Upton/HBO