Spotlight on screen to world
When the Chinese mainland kicked off its eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn holidays, something striking caught the eye of young travellers: film-themed tours were everywhere. From pop-up exhibitions celebrating blockbusters to guided visits to iconic set locations, the silver screen has leaked into travel plans like never before.
Data-driven boom
Tour agencies across major cities reported a 28% surge in bookings for film-based itineraries compared with last year’s holiday. A survey of 3,000 travellers across five G20 nations—including the US, the ROK, Germany, India, and Australia—found that 42% of respondents chose film-inspired routes, up from 25% in 2022.
Tech meets travel
Startups are racing to meet demand. WanderScene, an app mapping real and fictional film locations, closed a $5 million seed round in September. Meanwhile, AR guides in Shanghai cinemas let visitors stand alongside sci-fi heroes in immersive pop-up experiences. Business insiders predict the film-tourism market could top $10 billion globally by 2025.
Culture in motion
Academics and changemakers highlight a deeper impact: film tourism is more than a fad. “It’s storytelling at scale,” says Dr. Elena Rossi, a cultural studies researcher. “When travellers walk in a director’s footsteps, they engage with local history, architecture, and communities in new ways.”
Digital nomads and wanderers
Photo-bloggers and digital nomads from the ROK and the US have been live-streaming site visits—from the cobblestone alleys of historical dramas to high-tech VR zones in mega-cities. Their posts, tagged #FilmTrails, are steering global audiences toward off-the-map hotspots.
What’s next?
As film-themed tourism starstruck its way into this holiday season, experts say the trend will ripple across other cultural domains—music, art, and gaming—transforming how young global citizens connect with stories on and off-screen.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
