Rising Travel Trend: Global Destinations Inspired by Film and TV Shows
Hollywood Locations Surge as Tourist Destinations for Media Enthusiasts - Exploring popular travel destinations influenced by movies and television series among enthusiasts
Set-jetting, a phenomenon where audiences travel to the locations of their favorite television shows and films, is on the rise. For years, series and movie aficionados have traversed the globe to visit original shooting sites of productions such as "The Lord of the Rings" and "Sex and the City". However, the popular HBO series "The White Lotus" serves as a recent example of how such productions can bolster this form of tourism.
"The White Lotus": Inspiring New Destinations
With its unique and compelling setting, "The White Lotus" takes place in a new resort of a fictional hotel chain each season. The series has transported viewers to Hawaii and Sicily in its first two seasons, with each destination contributing to a boost in local tourism. According to a report by industry magazine "The Hollywood Reporter", the idyllic footage of these locations has attracted more tourists.
With the third season premiering in February and primarily filmed on the Thai island of Koh Samui, similar expectations are held for the new episodes' impact on tourism. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), believes the show will further strengthen the island's picturesque beaches and elegant luxury resorts as a filming location and a beacon of experiential tourism, drawing even more visitors. "ABC News" refers to this phenomenon as the "The White Lotus effect". Reportedly, travel agency Expedia has noted around 300 percent more search queries for Hawaii and Sicily following the first two seasons.
Recent data from the Berlin data studio Datapulse revealed a significant increase in Google search queries with the beginning of the third season, with 32 percent more queries for the term "flights to Thailand" and around 170 percent for the term "Koh Samui".
Upcoming Film and TV Productions with Global Tourism Impact
Based on streaming numbers and box office revenues, industry analysts predict that eight films and series could make certain countries and filming locations trendy travel destinations this year.
"Jurassic World: Dominion", set to hit theaters in July, is one of the anticipated productions. Filmed in parts in Thailand, like the latest "The White Lotus" season, many expect fans of the dino franchise to visit the filming locations.
"Paddington in Peru" premiered in Germany at the beginning of the year, featuring an animated bear returning to his fictional homeland. The film showcases famous Peruvian sites such as the ruins of Machu Picchu and the capital Lima, potentially piquing the interest of travelers.
The second season of "The Last of Us", an HBO series based on a popular video game, was filmed in British Columbia, Canada, including in the town of Mission.
"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning", the latest film in the long-running action series with Tom Cruise, boasts impressive images shot in the UK, South Africa, and Norway. The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard could thus benefit from an influx of visitors.
For the second season of the Netflix hit "Wednesday", Jennifer Ortega filmed in Ireland. Scenes from the series are likely to boost tourism in the Emerald Isle as well. The new episodes will be released in two parts on August 6 and September 3.
Again, Netflix: On June 27, the third and final season of "Squid Game" begins. Originally set in South Korea, the survival game series has become a massive hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show was filmed in various locations, including the capital city of Seoul.
Later this year, the film musical sequel "Wicked: For Good" is expected to hit theaters. According to "Variety", filming also took place in the White Desert National Park in Egypt.
The TV series "Yellowstone" has already brought in additional tourists, and the second season of its neo-Western prequel, "1923", could once again boost tourism in the U.S. state of Texas.
- The rising trend of set-jetting, inspired by film and TV shows, has led many viewers to travel to locations like Hawaii, Sicily, and soon Koh Samui in Thailand, as depicted in the HBO series "The White Lotus".
- Upcoming productions such as "Jurassic World: Dominion", "Paddington in Peru", "The Last of Us (Season 2)", "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning", "Wednesday (Season 2)", "Squid Game (Season 3)", and "Wicked: For Good" film musical sequel, are predicted to attract tourists to their filming locations, like Thailand, Peru, British Columbia, South Korea, Egypt, and Texas.
