Films 'influence holiday choices'

When countries appear in blockbuster films, more people want to visit them for a holiday, an industry expert has said.

Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) explained that the exposure that destinations receive in major moves always influenced how many people wanted to travel there.

"Every time we have a big blockbuster, or a very successful movie, there is always a rather large boost to the countries concerned. In the tourist industry, it always happens," he said.

"[The number of holidays to] New Zealand has increased dramatically after the Lord of the Rings movies, so it is a combination of glamour and that want-to-go factor that comes after a successful movie."

In particular, Mr Tipton revealed that the frequent appearances of New York in films, TV shows and books meant that it remained a very popular destination for UK holidaymakers.

"If you look at the main destination for us [in the US], it is New York and that is definitely [due to] the glamour of it."

Earlier this month, Zoom Airlines launched a low-cost service between London and New York.