Valencia-Based British Journalist’s Initiative

Cinema tourism is a growing phenomenon throughout the world (just ask the New Zealand authorities who laughed all the way to the bank after the Lord of the Rings saga boosted the number of ‘set-jetters’ visiting that country).

In Spain only a few local initiatives have taken advantage of this means of attracting quality tourism, although, thanks to a recent article by France Presse journalist Daniel Silva, this may be changing.

The article spoke about a series of recent films being made in Spain such as Tom Cruise’s ‘Knight and Day’ and Martin Sheen’s ‘The Way’, and how local authorities were delighted with the income from the film makers and also the way in which the films showcased their cities.

Mr Silva’s article quoted Valencian-based British journalist Bob Yareham, who is preparing a web site and series of articles (many of which have already been published) about almost 300 English language films shot partially or wholly in Spain since the 1920s.

Films such as Doctor Zhivago, Patton, 55 Days at Peking or even the Battle of Britain all took advantage of Spanish scenery, technical know-how and the willing collaboration of Spanish authorities.

Unfortunately the very authorities meant to promote Spanish tourism, organisms such as TurEspaña have been slow to understand this market, preferring to pay young people to shout greetings at tourists arriving in Madrid and other imaginative efforts.

Newspapers all over the world however have reported the initiative which will soon be making a significant contribution to bringing film lovers to Spain to visit the Peñiscola of El Cid, the Seville of Lawrence of Arabia, the Almeria of John Lennon who made 'How I Won the War' and wrote 'Strawberry Fields' there, and of course Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Perhaps the geniuses of TurEspaña will be waiting for them at the airport with their silly hats.

References in the international media to Bob Yareham’s project:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/spain-turns-to-hollywood-to-boost-tourism-1856141.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/travel/view/1027114/1/.html

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/147436/reftab/69/t/Spain-looks-at-Hollywood-to-boost-tourism/Default.aspx

http://m.khaleejtimes.com/kt/db_38277/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=3D0771564F8F3AE3DB0557F3261F24A6?contentguid=w6nbEQgh&detailindex=2&pn=0&ps=10&full=true

http://www.orange.co.bw/news/?p=4764

http://suratcinta.org/2009/12/27/spain-turns-to-hollywood-to-boost-tourism-afp/

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.a297490e9a8466fdcb1046b9ae1dd610.381&show_article=1

http://www.arabia.msn.com/News/economy/AFP/2009/December/1138413.aspx?ref=rss

http://www.timeturkey.net/NewsDetail.Asp?NewsID=1893

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1142418&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_world&cate_rss=WORLD_eng

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullTodays.php?headline=Spain+turns+to+Hollywood+to+boost+tourism&NewsID=217159

http://dailynews.muzi.com/news/ll/english/10096716.shtml?q=&cc=26146&a=on

http://malaysianmirror.com/businessdetail/9-business/24193-spain-turns-to-hollywood-to-boost-tourism

http://ohaiyo-business-travel.com/spain-turns-to-hollywood-to-boost-tourism-afp/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OhaiyoBusinessMagazine+(Ohaiyo+Business+Magazine)

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MzA1NjA0ODQ0

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091227/bs_afp/entertainmentspainfilmeconomytourism_20091227052227

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/147436/reftab/96/t/Spain-looks-at-Hollywood-to-boost-tourism/Default.aspx