For its 39th edition, the International Tourism Fair in Madrid, Fitur, is offering a new section, Fitur Cine / Screen Tourism – a platform for tourism connected to cinema and TV series. The new section is recognition that the places successful films or TV series were shot are attracting a growing number of tourists. An agreement was signed last July by Eduardo López-Puertas, General Manager of the fair’s organizers, IFEMA, and Carlos Rosado, president of the Spain Film Commission.
“Experience has shown that there is a net increase in tourism in places where international hit TV series and films have been shot,” Carlos Rosado said. “Film-making gives rise to tourism.” Indeed, a study conducted by TCI Research last year shows that 80 million people chose their holiday according to films or series they had seen.
The trend is growing fast, the same study shows this figure has doubled in five years. It offers new opportunities for the tourism sector as it tries to overcome seasonality and promote certain destinations. Spain joins countries such as New Zealand, England and France by positioning itself in the film tourism sector.
Worth noting as well, filming in Spain has increased recently thanks to new government policies, including greater incentive for foreign productions. Finally, the Spain Film Commission signed an agreement with ProFilm last November to promote certain international film shoots.
Sources: https://www.europapress.es, http://www.shootinginspain.info/
