THE FORCE BE WITH YOU Star Wars and film tourism

Posted on 12/30/2015

If you’ve seen "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" you’ll recognize the locations to which I refer, if you haven’t – no worry and no spoiler alert necessary – this is only about locations and potential tourism hotspots – not plot or characters.

Recent research indicates that films can have strong influence on tourist decision-making and the popularity of films can be revenue generating not just in the short term but over extended periods. Destinations such as New Zealand (Lord of the Rings), the UK (Bond, Bond, Bond - just for starters), have been quick to take advantage of this trend and the current Star Wars will undoubtedly feed the phenomenon. The desert scenes in the original Star Wars films in the ’70s and ’80s, were filmed in Death Valley, California and Tunisia. The desert scenes in the new Star Wars are filmed in the UAE and while some may think of sand as just sand, Abu Dhabi’s incredible soaring dunes are as breathtaking in real life as they are in IMAX 3D. At the other end of the spectrum, a snowy battle highlights the areas around Krafla Volcano and Myvatn Lakes in northern Iceland. No stranger to film, these locations have previously been seen on HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Another location is Gloucestershire’s unique and enchanting Puzzlewood with its fantastic tree and rock formations, located in the historic Forest of Dean. It’s been used in other films and JRR Tolkien is reputed to have taken his inspiration for the fabled forests of Middle Earth from Puzzlewood and it's easy to see why. Greenham Common, an old Royal Air Force base in Berkshire, England, was spotted by fans before the film opened when a pilot taking pictures for a flying school discovered he had snapped a picture of a partly constructed Millennium Falcon and an X-wing fighter. For me, the most breathtaking location in The Force Awakens, is the spectacular rock island of Skellig Michael in County Kerry, Ireland. Once the site of a sixth-century Christian monastery, the island thrusts vertically out of the sea, the hue of its flora immediately recognizable as a shade only Ireland can produce, is a gorgeous contrast against the slate coloured rock.

Even on film the heights are dizzying and there is not a chance in the world I could ever climb the 600 steep steps (no handrails) to the beehive huts of what was once one of Europe's most remote religious communities. Visitors have described a feeling of tranquility and isolation, and this is easily understandable even just watching the film. The panoramic views on the climb and from the top of the steps looking down over the cliffs and the ocean, is spectacular. The island's forbidding location has traditionally discouraged crowds, but officials expect that to change, though one has to wonder if that’s really a positive step.

Its prominent position in the film presents "a truly unique opportunity to highlight the South West and Ireland in 2016," Tourism Ireland has said, predicting a record year for visitors to the country in 2016.   https://www.worldheritageireland.ie/skellig-michael/