Forget Hollywood, Wales has become a TV and cinema filming favourite

While we're used to seeing iconic cities such as Paris, New York and LA on the big screen, the landscapes of Wales have started to steal the spotlight, and the attention of producers... Portia Jones reports

- Portia Jones

WITH its craggy coastlines, soaring mountains and ancient castles and legends, Wales is the perfect backdrop for numerous stories, and it's caught the attention of streaming giants.

A new report reveals that Netflix has generated more than £200m in revenue for the UK economy since 2020 through its investment in Welsh film and TV production.

By producing iconic shows such as Sex Education, The Crown, and The Witcher in Wales, the streaming platform has turned the country into a major production hub.

Anna Mallet, vice president of Production, UK, Netflix, says: "Blessed with incredible creative talent and beautiful natural landscapes, Wales is an amazing place to make entertainment, so Netflix is delighted that our Welsh productions can continue to create such enduring cultural and economic opportunities."

Netflix's influence is expected to grow even further with the recent release of the biggest feature film ever shot entirely in Wales.

Starring Tom Hardy, Havoc follows a deal gone wrong and the rescue of a politician's estranged son from the criminal underworld. Critics describe the film as "insanely violent" and "relentlessly brutal," but they have lavished praise on its action sequences, shot in locations across Wales.

In recent years, screen tourism, or set-jetting, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing trends in the travel industry, and Wales is in a prime position to capitalise on the growing demand.

Seren Welch, a screen tourism specialist, explains its significance: "This is an area of tourism that's seen exponential growth in the last 10 years."

The data supports this as Expedia's trends research in 2023 showed that 40% of trips booked on their platform were influenced by film or TV.