News 07.11.18
‘Set jetting’ takes off in Louisiana
The American Deep South state of Louisiana (NA450) is putting the focus on film tourism at WTM London with a movie-themed trail map for visitors – the destination has a film industry dating back more than 100 years.
Not only was New Orleans the home of America’s first indoor seated cinema in 1896 – the Vitascope Hall on Canal Street – but more than 2,500 films have been shot in the city and the wider state, so the tourist board is capitalising on that creativity.
“Our state’s flourishing film and television industry is having a definite impact on Louisiana’s tourism numbers,” said Billy Nungesser, lieutenant governor of Louisiana. “One of our recent studies indicated nearly 10% of our tourists are travelling here because of the movies and television shows set or shot in Louisiana.” Neil Jones, Louisiana Office of Tourism UK account director, added: “With unique, quirky and amazing scenery an everyday occurrence in Louisiana, it makes shooting films and TV shows in the state an obvious choice.” “Set jetting” is big business, and
COMPANY COLLABORATION
Big Bus takes Klook onboard
A new collaboration is set to help Big Bus Tours expand further into the Asia market. On Monday at WTM London, the global operator of premium open-top sightseeing trips Big Bus Tours (TA220) announced a partnership with Klook (TA220), the travel activity and services booking platform.
The partnership will also allow Klook to highlight its expansion into the USA and Europe. Omid Golshan, executive vice-president of global
26 07.11.2018 The tie-in means Big Bus Tours will be able to offer all products in real time
growth at Big Bus Tours, said: “Big Bus Tours products are very popular with our customers from Asia, particularly our Hong Kong products for which Klook is a top-seller. Klook’s European and USA
operations, launched this year as part of a global expansion, provide an opportunity for us to work more closely at local level to better merchandise Big Bus Tours’ products to Klook customers.”
New Orleans is a favourite location for movies and TV series
tourists are drawn to the places with the biggest names on offer. At
louisianatravel.com/film, potential visitors can find a rundown of where stars from Paul Newman to Jamie
Foxx have filmed their hits. There are even sites where movie-making meets modern history. For example, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow met their grisly end on Highway 154 in Louisiana in 1934, long before the 2013 mini-series Bonnie and Clyde was shot around the East Baton Rouge area. To increase accommodation capacity in the city, the former World Trade Center building in New Orleans is receiving a $450 million investment to be turned into a luxury Four Seasons Hotel and residences.
NEW CAMPAIGN
Hungary’s wow-factor
“Wow Hungary” is the slogan for the Hungarian Tourism Agency’s (EU1520) new brand launched earlier this year. The international marketing campaign to rebrand the European country began last month and is designed to encourage tourists to visit Hungary’s rural destinations. “A potential visitor’s dilemma shouldn’t be whether to visit Hungary or the Czech Republic; but whether they should travel to Tokaj or Hortobagy, or to the mountains of Matra or Bukk – this is our goal. It is not enough to see Budapest, the Hungarian countryside should be discovered too,” said David Farkas, deputy chief executive of the Hungarian Tourism Agency. The campaign will be
implemented in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, the Netherlands, the UK, China, the USA, France and Canada – a total of 13 countries. But the tourist board is not leaving its capital out of the spotlight altogether – a second marketing campaign, dubbed “Spice of Europe”, will focus on Budapest’s architecture, cultural
attractions and art scene in 2019.
The launch of API technology last year marked a step further towards paperless tickets and now, with Klook, Big Bus Tours customers can receive a QR code directly to their mobile devices. “Through the API partnership with Klook, we can ensure that all our products in all cities are available in real time, on one of the world’s leading travel activities booking platforms. It’s in a digital format that customers from Asia are familiar with and prefer, ensuring we deliver a localised yet simple and consistent booking experience,” added Golshan. This year, Big Bus Tours has also announced the launch of its operations in Dublin and Los Angeles, and the acquisition of the Singapore Duck and Hippo tour company group.
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