Nearly 8 out of 10 tourists were inspired to visit Paris after watching a film or series set in the French capital, according to the National Centre for Cinema and Moving Image. This phenomenon, known as « movie tourism », is boosting the local economy and transforming Paris into a living film set. How is the big screen influencing tourists’ experiences ? A report by Coralie Chovino.
In front of the building at 1 Place de l’Estrapade, between a fountain and a few benches, the crowd is growing larger. Families and friends are taking selfies one after another. They all have the same words on their lips…
SOUND : EMILY IN PARIS (x4 repeats)
The number of visitors to Paris has increased by 16 per cent since the series was broadcast about the adventures of a young American in the Parisian luxury industry.
MONICA : I feel that in the series, maybe they just…You know because of the colours, maybe it seems the brighter, but of course it’s lighting.
For American Jia and Canadian Monica, the atmosphere and landscapes depicted in the fiction resemble reality.
JIA : Is it so pretty. I love just walking in the palace streets . Just that is enough, like is so beautiful, clean, and the Eiffel tower.
MONICA : It is a very cute neighborhood I feel.
But Jia says that not all is perfect. She thinks the building leaves something to be desired…
JIA : Actually, the door looks very… I don’t know.. I feel it’s very.. old
The economic impact of movie tourism is also significant. Parisian hotels have recorded a 10 per cent increase in bookings from the United States.
AMBIENT NOISE METRO / STREET / PHOTOS
On the other side of Paris, the iconic café from the movie Amélie Poulain attracts tourists to Montmartre. Jema, from New Zealand, takes time to capture a few photos in front of the famous red neon façade, a symbol of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s movie.
JEMA : Today, we just visiting the Café des 2 Moulins. It’s a little bit small in the real life, but I think that it’s just normal like Paris’s ended. But the way as look exactly the same.
Movie tourism is not limited to Paris. For Jema, movies and series are a decisive factor in planning her future trips abroad.
JEMA :
Tchalla, from Turkey, says that not a travel trigger for her, but rather an opportunity for occasional visits.
TCHALLA : I don’t think that it will direct my vacation plans. But, if I am going somewhere, I can check what kind of movies is there. And if I like the movie, I can reserve the place. But not really planning my destination according to the movies.
Matthew from Japan, seeks to experience something similar to that of the main characters.
MATTHEW : If I choose the country for travel, I choose the press using that movie in the cinema because I want to go there, I want to change my mind, I want to repeat the main character, and I want to feel the same things.
In February, 86 per cent of foreign tourists remembered seeing at least one French fiction in their country of origin before visiting Paris. The capital is asserting itself not only as an iconic backdrop but also as an invitation to live adventures inspired by the big screen.
Coralie Chovino