Research Demonstrates Rise in TV tourism
April 2011 - Sport, Leisure and Tourism
A recent CSMA survey of 2,025 people has shown that popular TV shows are responsible for rising levels of tourism in the areas they’re set in.
As a prime example, the poll revealed that that “TV Tourists” are responsible for an expected rise of up to 400% in visitors this year for locations such as Highclere Castle in Berkshire where the show Downton Abbey is filmed.
Other destinations made popular by exposure on television include Cardiff (thanks to Doctor Who), Barry Island in South Wales where Gavin and Stacey plus Being Human are filmed and Turville in Buckinghamshire for The Vicar of Dibley.
Films are also helping to attract visitors to their locations, with Gloucester Cathedral, which has been used as a location for the Harry Potter films amongst the tourist spots benefiting a great deal from the TV tourism trend.
Mark Rothery, CSMA Managing Director, commented: "While there may be a perception that watching TV stops us getting outside and enjoying the countryside, this research shows that our love of great British TV programmes and films has actually boosted the UK tourism industry.”
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