TV series such as Emily in Paris have helped to romanticize and popularize the French capital, leading to an increase in the number of people interested in visiting this destination in recent years. According to a survey conducted by France’s National Center for Cinema and Animated Image, the interest in visiting France by foreign respondents has increased significantly due to the influence of TV shows and movies filmed in the country.
The majority of respondents were American, Chinese, British, Spanish, German, and Belgian nationals who planned to stay in the country for up to one week and were spending more than €1,700 on average on their trips. The survey revealed that TV shows like ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Lupin’ were the main reasons for attracting tourists to France, with ‘Lupin’ having a greater impact on attracting tourists to the country than ‘Emily in Paris’.
In addition to France, popular TV shows have also significantly boosted tourism in other destinations. For example, Sicily saw a surge in tourism after being featured as the filming location for the second season of White Lotus. Similarly, in Iceland, there is consideration to add Game of Thrones detours in response to client interest.
VisitBritain is also set to launch a marketing campaign focusing on filming locations of various movies and TV shows, aiming to attract tourists beyond London. However, the increasing interest in visiting these popular destinations for cinematographic enthusiasts is not always positive. For example, the famous destination of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Basque Country, known as Dragonstone to Game of Thrones fans, experienced significant overtourism, prompting local authorities to introduce an online ticketing system to control the number of visitors and protect the destination’s natural habitat.
The impact of TV shows on tourism is undeniable, and it continues to drive interest in traveling to destinations featured on screen. Emily in Paris and Lupin have particularly sparked greater interest in visiting France, and the influence of TV shows on tourism does not stop there. As the allure of these destinations continues to grow, it will be important for authorities to find a balance between attracting tourists and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of these destinations.
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