travel

Movies and tourism are a good combination to plan the holiday of your dreams.  It’s easy to fall in love through the movies. Famous films, where the destinations are the protagonists of history, inviting travelers from all over the world to tour those places seen on the big screen.

The tourism industry throughout the world designs tours aimed at famous locations shown in films.  In Paris, there is the popular tour inspired from the “Da Vinci Code” movie, in New York there are the ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Sex in the City’ tours.

Venice, Italy

Being a romantic city with extensive tourism infrastructure, Venice has long been the scenic location of choice for many movies including the recent “Tourists” starring Anglina Jolie and Johnny Depp, with the much of the story filmed in the Danielli Hotel.  Not surprisingly, Venice is also home to one of the most famous film festivals “La Biennale di Venezia” with the 68th festival commencing on 31 August.

Notable locations such as St Mark’s Square, the Cathedral and the Clock Tower have featured in the films; ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Singles’ and ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentleman’.

New York, USA

There have been many movies shot in New York.  With skyscrapers as far as the eye can see, the Statue of Liberty, the brightness of Times Square, and the paradise of Central Park in the middle of the city which never sleeps, films have inspired travelers around the world.  New York not only has the perfect setting for films but also lower costs with no taxes for film production.  Some notable films dating back decades include; ‘King Kong’ featuring the Empire State Building, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s', ‘An American Gangster’ – now also a museum, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Madagascar’ along with notable TV shows ‘Sex in the City’, ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Friends’.

There are many tours inspired from famous films, starting from $49.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Although an animated film, ‘Rio’ offers reflects on the most emblematic subjects of this Brazilian paradise.  Featuring blue macaws, Corcovado, Tijuca National Park, the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana and the famous Rio Carnival, this film is being used to help promote tourism for the 2014 World Cup.

Other notable movies featuring Rio include; ‘Fast and Furious’, ‘Flying Down to Rio’, ‘Bossa Nova’, ‘City of God’ and ‘Motorcycle Diaries’

Paris, France

The Woody Allen movie ‘Midnight in Paris’, shows a beautiful and passionate city in Paris that invites you to visit its monuments, streets, museums and cafes.  The corner where the main character, Owen Wilson, gets picked up each night in a vintage car makes a journey through the golden age of Paris.

Well known movies which have inspired tours around Paris include ‘La Vie en Rose’, ‘Amelie’ and ‘The Da Vinci Code’

Bali, Indonesia

Bali was featured in the recent movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.  The landscapes and mysticism of Bali seen in this movie has inspired many world travelers to visit this unique travel destination.  There is a tour in which visitors can walk in the footsteps of the movie’s main character Liz Gilbert as she searches for her spirit including the beaches, temples and markets.  The other main character in the film, spiritual guru Liyer Ketut, also became a tourist attraction himself with travelers wishing to be read their future.  Julie Roberts remarked that “Bali takes your breath away” when reflecting on her experience.  The film has mostly inspired women over 30, looking for spiritual journeys, sun, inner peach and perhaps even an affair.