The global rise of set-jetting

EVER found yourself so swept away by the picturesque landscapes of a film or TV series that you added it to your bucket list destination?

- DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

Of course, not everyone can immediately hop on a plane and explore the place that has captured their heart and imagination — such trips require planning and fiscal flexibility.

For me, two films stoked my wanderlust. The first was Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts as the protagonist, rediscovering herself in Italy (Rome and Naples), India (Pataudi and Delhi) and Bali (Ubud and Padang Padang Beach). Everything about her food to cultural experiences gave viewers serious FOMO.

Since the movie's release in 2010, many have flocked to these destinations to either have their own Eat Pray Love moment or simply to bask in the joy of exploring them.

The other movie was Under the Tuscan Sun, released in 2003, with Diane Lane. It was filmed in an off-the-beaten-path village. It was rustic, beautiful and heartwarming.

More recently, my obsession with K-dramas has left me fascinated with fascinating Seoul. Just the culture, food and place itself have stolen my heart.

My musings do have a point. It is that knock-on effect that film and TV shows have on tourism, with the rise of set-jetting. It started getting some traction with the release of Braveheart (Scotland, 1995) and Notting Hill (London, 1999), which piqued international curiosity.

Then, from 2001 to 2003, The Lord of the Rings trilogy saw a rise in tourism in New Zealand. And this wave of fandom is sparking a surge in location visits and continues to gain momentum like it did with Game of Thrones, which sent fans exploring Croatia, Northern Ireland, Spain and Iceland.

And, more recently, season three of The White Lotus, which was filmed in Thailand, garnered a similar reaction.

Here are a few countries that have witnessed a surge spurred on by screen tourism:

NEW ZEALAND: