There is a surge in travel searches from UAE residents to destinations featured in award-nominated films and acclaimed television programmes, according to a report by Expedia.
The travel company has documented significant increases in interest to locations that have appeared on screen, from Abu Dhabi’s desert landscapes to Thailand’s coastal regions.
UAE travellers flock to film and TV show locations
Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis, which served as a backdrop for a recent blockbuster, has seen an 85 per cent year-over-year increase in searches from UAE travellers.
Meanwhile, Malta, featured in a historical epic about a Roman gladiator, registered a 175 per cent increase in searches. The Mediterranean island’s Fort Ricasoli, Fort Delimara, and Fort Manoel have become points of interest.
Aside from this, Amsterdam’s tulip fields, reminiscent of scenes from a Broadway musical adaptation, have prompted a 165 per cent rise in searches. Travellers can visit during the April Amsterdam Tulip Festival.
Rome and Vatican City have experienced a 115 per cent increase in searches following their portrayal in a thriller about a papal election. While the Sistine Chapel scenes were studio recreations, visitors can view the actual site at the Vatican Museum.
New York City, featured in a film about a folk music legend, has seen a 70 per cent search increase, whereas Thailand, the setting for a new season of a resort-based drama series, has recorded the most substantial increase at 285 per cent.
Seoul, South Korea, which featured in a survival drama, has experienced a 95 per cent increase in searches.
Expedia noted that the best times to visit these destinations: November-April for Abu Dhabi, April-June or September-October for Malta, March-May for Amsterdam, March-May for Rome, April-June for New York, November-May for Thailand, and April-June for Seoul.
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