November 2019
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Travel Trends Prepared for New Hampshire Division of Travel of Tourism Development Louisiana CVBs seek to ‘swap’ visitors Two parishes in southeast Louisiana are launching a joint promotion to draw tourists from each other. Tangipahoa Parish is north- Jesse Vad / Gothamist (large photo) Warner Bros. (inset photo) northeast of New Orleans, and Tourists and sightseers take photos at the “Joker stairs” in the Bronx. Lafourche Parish is southwest Inset: Joker, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, dances down the stairs as Gary Glitter’s “Rock of New Orleans. and Roll Part 2” plays in the background. Now, tourism officials in each parish are encouraging visits No joke: Film, TV sites attract visitors, from the other. Each has posted but not everyone thinks it’s worth it suggested itineraries for day- trips or overnight getaways. Thanks to Joaquin Phoenix’s dance “We feel disrespected.” Suggested itineraries for moves in “Joker,” the stairs Francis said his neighbors now have Lafourche include the parish’s connecting Shakespeare and trouble using the stairs to get to Cajun Bayou Food Trail. Anderson Avenues in the Highbridge work and school and that some have neighborhood of the Bronx are the Tangipahoa Parish is stopped using them out of fear of most famous set of steps in New appearing in photos. highlighting its Global Wildlife York City. They have their own The Bronx has had a rough Center, where visitors can Instagram hashtag with more than reputation, one it's struggled to hand-feed animals. 700 tagged photos, and were also shed. Though its associations with The joint effort is called the added to Google Maps as a arson fires and crime may have Explore More campaign, and “religious site” (the designation has lessened in recent years, it's still not tourism officials said it was since been removed). driven in part by a challenge an area many tourists explore, All the attention has frustrated some despite being home to the Bronx issued by Lt. Gov. Billy residents of Highbridge. Nungesser for Louisiana’s Zoo, the New York Botanical tourism entities to find “We hope it ends soon because we Gardens and Yankee Stadium. innovative ways to partner with don’t need this,” said Jonathan The Office of The Bronx Borough each other. Francis, a 29-year-old who has lived President Rubén Díaz Jr. stated in the neighborhood his entire life. Source: Washington Post Continued on page 2 November 19 Travel Trends 1 Film, TV locations attract visitors, but not all work out as planned Continued from page 1 upon,” said Jon Sanders, an The movie first premiered in theaters on Twitter that they hope any economist with the John Locke 30 years ago. The movie was shot in visitors to the Bronx “decide to Foundation, a conservative think Natchitoches in 1988. tank in Raleigh, North Carolina. spend money while they’re here in “Not a week goes by at the our local businesses and vendors.” The argument is moot now. Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Producers announced Oct. 17 that Bureau’s Welcome Center that shooting will end with the visitors don’t come in asking about completion of the show’s 10th the ‘Steel Magnolias’ movie and episode. wanting to learn more about the “Bluff City Law” has not been movie being filmed here,” said canceled, however. Executives will Arlene Gould, Natchitoches CVB assess the program after its 10 executive director, said in a news episodes air, to see if it builds any release. traction on Hulu or other delayed- Julia Roberts plays Shelby in the viewing and on-demand platforms. movie, which also stars Sally Field, The program’s fourth episode was Paul Gilmore/NBC Tom Skerritt, Shirley MacLaine, The “Bluff City Law” cast. watched by 3.39 million households, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and according to the Nielsen ratings. This Daryl Hannah. made it the night’s lowest-rated An example from television program among the “big four” Events included unveiling of the Memphis economic development broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC Natchitoches Film Trail highlighting officials had high hopes and and Fox), and also meant the series the points of interest in Natchitoches estimated it would cost $13.5 million had lost more than a million viewers Parish associated with movie to buy the exposure that Memphis is from its Sept. 23 debut episode. locations and the Association for the getting in the first 10 episodes of the Preservation of Historic new NBC legal drama “Bluff City A long-lasting connection Natchitoches’ tour of homes and Law.” Natchitoches, La., celebrated all sites used in the movie's filming. The Economic Development Growth things “Steel Magnolias” Nov. 7-10 Engine of Memphis and Shelby with the Blush and Bashful Weekend Sources: Gothamist, CNN, Daily County (EDGE) projected the show (a reference to the color scheme for Memphian, Commercial Appeal, would bring in $1.7 billion in new character Shelby’s wedding). KTBS.com, the Advocate visitor spending in Memphis. That’s nearly half of all visitor spending in Shelby County in 2018, when 11.8 million people visited the city. But experts who’ve studied film industry incentives and other observers say EDGE’s estimated impact of "Bluff City Law" may have been vastly overstated. Sally Field and “Tourism inspired by movies and TV Julia Roberts in a scene from shows is really not something that “Steel can be predicted, let alone relied Magnolias.” November 19 Travel Trends 2.