New Zealand became a favorite among tourists after the release of the «Lord of the Rings» trilogy
Most films and TV series are traditionally shot in popular, easily recognizable locations. For example, the film «French Kiss» was shot in Paris, «Only You» in Rome, and it's hard to imagine how many films and series have been shot in New York! But every director or producer, in search of authenticity, wants to find an unfamiliar, remote location for filming, not only to create suitable sets for the plot but also a certain atmosphere. And for better or worse for those places, they became tourist meccas and plunged into a sea of fame and commerce precisely thanks to cinema.
Petra («Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade»)
If a world-famous film company shoots a movie in some region, then from the moment the film is shown on the big screen, that area will be overcrowded with tourists. Who can forget the episode from the film «Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade» when the main character and his father lead the Nazis to the place where the Holy Grail, the source of eternal life, is kept? The treasure was stored in the ruins of a Jordanian temple in the pink stone city of Petra. After the film's release, the number of tourists in the city increased from several thousand to a million per year. This city is called a wonder of the modern world.
Doune Castle («Monty Python and the Holy Grail»)
The comedy group Monty Python achieved cult status during their heyday in the 70s and 80s. One of their famous films was «Monty Python and the Holy Grail», in which King Arthur's knights set off for the Holy Grail. The movie was shot in Scotland, and Doune Castle appeared in several episodes. Its entire area, called the Great Hall, became the prototype of the kingdom of Camelot. The eastern wall of the castle gained particular popularity among fans of the film, who still come here.
Angkor Wat («Lara Croft: Tomb Raider»)
Everyone knows that Angelina Jolie adopted her eldest son, Maddox, in Cambodia. But few know that this desire arose in the actress during the filming of «Lara Croft: Tomb Raider» at Angkor Wat. Thanks to the film, the whole world learned about a country that had experienced military conflict and is located 'at the end of the world'. Angkor Wat became especially popular due to its unique beauty, especially at sunrise. The film turned an isolated Asian country into a popular tourist destination.
Chatsworth House («Pride & Prejudice», 2005)
What makes English suburbs picturesque are the endless manicured meadows and exquisite country houses. One such house is Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, an estate belonging to the Duke of Devonshire. It is known not only as the setting for the series «Pride & Prejudice» filmed in 2005. The fact is that the house was mentioned in the novel by the author herself, Jane Austen. Perhaps that's why they decided to film at this estate, the prototype of Pemberley. Today, tours are still conducted for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the history and culture of that era.
Steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art («Rocky»)
Once quiet Philadelphia now suffers an invasion of tourists who come to see the 'Rocky Steps' made famous by the Oscar-winning film «Rocky». They are located in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, runs up the steps to the song 'Gonna Fly Now'. Since the 72-step staircase became famous thanks to the film, a bronze statue of Rocky was placed on the lawn near it.
Highclere Castle («Downton Abbey»)
Neither the producers, nor the crew, nor the actors of the British series «Downton Abbey» thought they would become world famous. Thanks to the series, the building gained particular popularity. In real life, Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle, the property of the Earl of Carnarvon in Hampshire, England. The castle's owners host tourist tours and are friendly to visitors who want to see with their own eyes the world in which the fictional aristocratic family lived.
New Zealand (the «Lord of the Rings» trilogy)
Thanks to director Peter Jackson, the sparsely populated expanses of New Zealand, known for its sheep herds, became popular worldwide. The director and film crew chose the country for the main filming of the «Lord of the Rings» trilogy for its pristine nature, to create the atmosphere of Middle-earth in the film. The prototype for the Shire was an area called Otaki Georg Road, the prototype for the Gardens of Isengard was Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt, and the prototype for Rivendell was Kaitoke Regional Park. International tours to New Zealand, organized among fans of the trilogy, now bring substantial income to their organizers.
Alnwick Castle (the «Harry Potter» film series)
Thanks to computer graphics and amazing cinematography, Alnwick Castle became the prototype for Hogwarts, the famous school of wizardry from the «Harry Potter» film series. It is located in Northumberland and was built in 1096, and thanks to the films, 800,000 people visit here every year. Filming took place both inside and outside the castle. Today it is the epitome of all English castles that have survived to this day.
Salzburg («The Sound of Music»)
This place is a temple of music because it is the city where Mozart was born. But it became popular thanks to the television musical 'The Sound of Music'. Many picturesque corners of the city were filmed in the movie. For example, the Mirabell Gardens and fountain became an iconic place, as this is where they filmed the episode when Maria and the von Trapp children sang the song 'Do-Re-Mi'. Some of Salzburg's castles became prototypes for the interior of the von Trapp house. Every year thousands of tourists come to see the sets from the famous film.
Forks, Washington (Twilight film series)
For those unfamiliar with the Twilight saga, the town of Forks, Washington is just a city. Although Forks is the main location in the film, most of the filming did not take place there. Nevertheless, the places that were filmed or mentioned in the book are well known to fans. Forks remains a town with a population of 4,000, but the number of tourists has increased significantly due to those wanting to see the forests, beaches, rivers and other places that served as prototypes for Edward Cullen's land. Every year tourists visit the town, and in the center you can buy souvenirs and merchandise related to the series.
Now do you understand why managers of successful travel agencies, after developing a new route, go to a disc replication factory and order DVDs and CDs? A video about the tourist route on a quality disc with good printing will be a pleasant surprise for the client, who after such a gift will definitely return for a new tour and even bring their friends!