How VisitBritain’s ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ Campaign Goes Further with SetJetters
By Erik Nachtrieb, SetJetters CEO & Cofounder
Film and television have long been powerful drivers of tourism, turning once-overlooked locations into must-visit destinations. Recognizing this, VisitBritain has launched its Starring GREAT Britain campaign to capitalize on the UK’s global appeal as a backdrop for some of the most iconic films and TV shows.
This film tourism initiative is in partnership with the Expedia Group and is a significant step towards showcasing Britain’s screen tourism opportunities while also connecting it to bookings of in-bound film tourists. For tourists inspired to travel to the many locations starring Great Britain, the SetJetters app completes the direct connection between film locations and travelers looking to stand in the world created on screen.
The Power of the ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ Campaign
VisitBritain’s Starring GREAT Britain campaign is a global marketing push that highlights the UK’s rich history in film and television. The campaign uses blockbuster-style promotional materials, including a dedicated digital hub on VisitBritain’s website that categorizes destinations by film genres, from fantasy to historical drama.
Additionally, VisitBritain’s partnership with Expedia aims to convert interest into action by providing travel packages and itineraries for visitors inspired by Britain’s on-screen presence. It’s a smart move to leverage film tourism as an economic driver, benefiting regions across the UK.
The Bridge Between Inspiration and Real-World Exploration
Where Starring GREAT Britain successfully ignites interest in visiting the UK’s film locations and the Expedia partnership provides travel deals and itineraries, SetJetters builds on this by directly connecting travelers to the specific sites they’re so eager to explore while providing a precise guide to filming locations and an immersive opportunity to ShotSync yourself in a film’s scene at that location - a previously untapped opportunity for regions and local businesses.
How SetJetters Enhances Film Tourism and Closes the Loop
By mapping out thousands of real-world film and TV locations in Britain and connecting them to global film scene locations, SetJetters enables travelers to find, visit, and even recreate their favorite on-screen moments.
Key Features That Align with VisitBritain’s Initiative:
Exact Location Mapping - Unlike general travel guides, SetJetters pinpoints the precise spots where famous scenes were filmed, allowing users to plan their visits accordingly.
ShotSync Camera Feature - Travelers can recreate famous scenes with built-in guided ShoSync alignment, making visits more interactive and shareable on social media.
Gamification of Film Scene Locations - SetJetters adds a layer of interactivity with achievement badges, challenges, and a leaderboard for visiting and capturing specific film locations, encouraging deeper engagement.
Personalized Film Itineraries - SetJetters lets users customize their own film location tours, enhancing the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional travel packages.
Engagement & Community - Users can share their visits and experiences, creating organic buzz around filming locations.
Near-Scene Business Integration - Local businesses near filming locations can connect with film tourists, providing special offers, film-themed experiences, and promotions.
SetJetters platform completes a key piece in the film tourism journey - from inspiration to booking to on-the-ground exploration.
Optimizing Film Tourism
For regional tourism organizations, film commissions, and local businesses, participating in film tourism creates unique opportunities to drive engagement and foot traffic.
Leveraging Film Tourism:
Increased Regional Visitation - Lesser-known filming locations can be highlighted, driving visitors beyond traditional tourist hotspots.
Better Data & Insights - Valuable live analytics on where film tourists are going and what locations are generating interest.
Tracking Film Tourism’s Economic Impact - Film offices can leverage tourism data to demonstrate the extended economic benefits of productions long after filming wraps. By analyzing visitor trends at filming locations the long-tail ROI of the incentives used to attract productions can be quantified, helping justify future investment in film-friendly initiatives.
Stronger Storytelling for Destinations - Tourism boards can create content-rich promotions that link directly to the film scene locations, making travel planning more interactive.
More Revenue for Local Businesses - Restaurants, hotels, and attractions near filming sites can benefit from targeted promotions while the tourist is on site.
Why Now is the Time to Engage Film Tourism
The Starring GREAT Britain campaign is a fantastic initiative that will drive unique experiences for travelers - turning cinematic inspiration into real-world exploration.
Global travel is rebounding, and audiences are more eager than ever to turn their favorite on-screen moments into real-world adventures. Streaming platforms have expanded the reach of film and TV productions, continuously introducing new locations to worldwide audiences.
Additionally, destinations that have invested in attracting productions through tax incentives and support services now have the opportunity to showcase the long-term return on investment by driving sustained tourism to these filming sites. With initiatives like Starring GREAT Britain already in motion, engaging film tourism ensures this surge in interest directly translates into increased visitation, economic impact, and deeper engagement with local communities.
Enhance your destination’s visibility and visitor experience.
Download SetJetters for free on your App Store. SetJetters is the largest film scenes location app in the world, with all your favorite films, TV shows, and games.
