Film tourism is gaining popularity among Russian travelers

Film tourism is a new trend among Russian travelers, where tourists travel to the filming locations of their favorite movies and TV series. The number of inquiries and bookings for such trips has increased by almost a quarter. According to the travel marketplace YouTravel.me, this trend is driven by a demand for emotional and unusual travel experiences.

This is especially noticeable in Turkey, where film tourism has effectively emerged as a distinct destination. This is facilitated by convenient logistics, the absence of visa barriers, and the availability of Russian-speaking guides.

Interest also remains in the locations of popular Western productions—for example, those associated with the TV series and films Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, Charmed, and Desperate Housewives. However, such trips are more often organized on a customized basis: tourists make specific requests and tailor an itinerary to their interests, rather than choosing ready-made mass tours.

The format of the trip largely depends on the accessibility of the destination. Specialized tours to filming locations do exist, but they remain a niche product. They are offered by individual tour operators and travel platforms. Typically, such itineraries include an in-depth excursion program and sometimes include guides with ties to the film industry or familiar with the filming locations.

Experts name Turkey, South Korea, Italy, and the United States as the most popular film tourism destinations. However, due to logistical constraints and visa issues, the last two destinations have been lagging behind in bookings in recent years.

Overall, experts note that despite external restrictions, interest in non-standard travel formats remains, and the film tourism segment continues to gradually develop.