Working together to leverage film tourism: collaboration between the film and tourism industries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show how an increasing number of film and tourism industry stakeholders are working together with the dual goals of attracting film production and then capitalizing on the subsequent exposure. Design/methodology/approach Recently published reports and articles related to the film industry and film tourism in particular are thoroughly reviewed. Findings Although most tourism organizations and film commissions have been slow to tap the potential benefits of film tourism, the examples highlighted show how partnerships between the two industries can be mutually beneficial. Practical implications If leveraged well, film tourism can have large economic gains for countries and regions. Destination marketing organizations should be working with film commissions and engaging in marketing activities at four distinct stages of a film's lifecycle; before production of a film, during production, during release of the film, and after release. Originality/value This is the first full film tourism paper to reflect on existing collaboration between the film and tourism industries.