Claire and Jamie Fraser standing together in a stone doorway surrounded by greenery – still from Outlander (© 2014 Sony Pictures Television Inc.)

One in six visitors now travel to Scotland because of film or TV, driving £787 million in annual tourism spending

Promotional still from Outlander (Sony Pictures Television, 2014). © 2014 Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved. At a Glance: Scotland’s Screen Tourism Impact The economic contribution for films and TV programmes to generate economic benefits for the countries and regions, is starkly brought into focus by a new study from Screen Scotland – the…

UK Film Studio Sector 2025: Expansion, Setbacks and Shifts

UK Film Studio Sector 2025: Expansion, Setbacks and Shifts

Part of Cinematic Tourism’s continuing series tracking studio infrastructure and regional screen investment. The first half of 2025 has been a busy period for film-studio developments in the UK. It’s been a mixed bag — good news on one hand with major site upgrades, contrasted with projects slowed by rising costs and planning delays. For…

Global Tourism Shows Continued Growth as France Leads 2025 Hotspots

Global Tourism Shows Continued Growth as France Leads 2025 Hotspots

The latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released in May 2025, reports a 5% increase in international arrivals during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Over 300 million international tourists travelled globally in Q1, surpassing pre-pandemic levels (2019) by 3%. Strong growth was particularly evident in Asia and the Pacific,…

2025 Film Funding and Incentives: What’s Happening Worldwide

2025 Film Funding and Incentives: What’s Happening Worldwide

Here’s a deep dive into recent, major funding and incentive developments shaping the global film and TV landscape. and there have been plenty. Things are heating up in the US funding and incentive wise, with a slew of new measures aiming to secure a slice of coveted production budgets. These initiatives help various states stay…

Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia & More: Regional Screen Tourism Takeaways from FITUR Screen 2025

Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia & More: Regional Screen Tourism Takeaways from FITUR Screen 2025

FITUR Screen 2025 in collaboration with the Spain Film Commission, held as part of Spain’s leading tourism trade event Fitur in Madrid, showcased how Spanish regions are integrating screen tourism into their broader strategies. Day 2 of the event provided insights into different regional approaches, highlighting both successes and challenges. Barcelona Province: A Need for…

How UK Destinations Are Adapting VisitBritain’s Screen Tourism Campaign

How UK Destinations Are Adapting VisitBritain’s Screen Tourism Campaign

Following the launch of VisitBritain’s Starring GREAT Britain campaign, destinations across the UK are seizing the opportunity to promote their filming locations and cinematic tourism experiences. VisitLiverpool Expands Screen Tourism Campaign to Highlight City’s Cinematic Legacy VisitLiverpool, in collaboration with Liverpool Film Office, has launched the second phase of its screen tourism campaign, Liverpool. The…

Launch of Visit Britain’s New Advert: Featuring Trains, Dragons and Automobiles

Launch of Visit Britain’s New Advert: Featuring Trains, Dragons and Automobiles

Move over, Hollywood – Britain proves it is one of the biggest film sets in the world with a slick, star-studded, action-packed promotional film that showcases just how many blockbusters have been filmed in the country. This movie-style promo will also change perceptions among certain global audiences, film fans and casual tourists, who may be…

Second International Conference on Literary and Film Tourism

Second International Conference on Literary and Film Tourism

The University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal, was the setting for the Second International Conference on Literary and Film Tourism, held on 17th and 18th January 2025. The event was organised once again through the partnership of The School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism (University of the Algarve), the CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and…

Mancunians Assemble – Greater Manchester Unveils Self-Guided Film and TV Location Map

Mancunians Assemble – Greater Manchester Unveils Self-Guided Film and TV Location Map

Marketing Manchester, the agency charged with promoting the city nationally and internationally, has launched a new self-guided map to help visitors explore iconic filming locations from their favourite productions that have been shot in the city, including blockbuster films like Captain America: The First Avenger and TV series such as Peaky Blinders and UK’s longest…

Visit Britain Hosts Showcase Britain 2025 – Preview of the Starring GREAT Britain Campaign

Visit Britain Hosts Showcase Britain 2025 – Preview of the Starring GREAT Britain Campaign

This week, Visit Britain, the national tourism agency, is hosting its annual buyer programme, Showcase Britain, with a special focus on screen tourism, which is a major focus for the agency this year. The Showcase Britain event comes on the back of research from Visit Britain which reveals that more than 9 out of 10…

Thailand Shines as a Premier Film Destination at CineAsia 2024

Thailand Shines as a Premier Film Destination at CineAsia 2024

Thailand has once again showcased its status as a leading global film destination at CineAsia 2024, held in Bangkok this December. The annual event, now in its 29th year, is the premier gathering for the motion picture industry in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. CineAsia provides a platform for networking, product presentations, and the screening of…

Connecticut Launches the First Christmas Movie Trail in the US

Connecticut Launches the First Christmas Movie Trail in the US

Connecticut has officially unveiled the United States’ first Christmas Movie Trail, inviting fans of festive films to explore the real-life locations behind their favourite holiday classics. With over 22 Christmas movies filmed in the state, including iconic titles like Christmas in Connecticut (1945) and Hallmark’s Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane (2018), the trail highlights the growing…

Bollywood Film Set to Boost Sapporo Tourism in India

Bollywood Film Set to Boost Sapporo Tourism in India

Sapporo City in Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture is partnering with All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Aamir Khan Productions to position itself as a must-visit destination for Indian travelers. As reported by Travel Trends Today, this collaboration leverages the reach and influence of Bollywood to highlight Sapporo’s stunning landscapes and cultural appeal, with the ultimate goal of…

UK’s Somerset Council Sees Economic Boom Through Film and TV Productions

UK’s Somerset Council Sees Economic Boom Through Film and TV Productions

Somerset Council Sees Economic Boom Through Film and TV Productions Somerset Council is leveraging the booming UK film and television industry to establish the county as a key destination for blockbuster productions. According to a recent BBC report, the council’s proactive efforts through its Screen Somerset initiative have resulted in nearly £3 million of production…

YouTube Culture and Trends Report

YouTube Culture and Trends Report

The 2024 YouTube Culture & Trends Report delves into the evolving landscape of fandom, highlighting how fans are transforming from mere consumers to active creators. This shift has significant implications for destination marketers aiming to leverage film tourism. Below are key insights from the report, each followed by actionable learnings for professionals in destination marketing…