Forks, Washington may not seem an ideal place for a holiday, with just 3,000 residents and an average of 10-12 feet rainfall every year. But that didn’t stop the sleepy town enjoying a 600 per cent jump in tourism last year, due almost entirely to its status as the setting of hit trilogy Twilight.

Film and TV tourism has steadily grown in popularity over recent years, and while rainy Forks might not be ideal for everyone here’s five other shows that have managed to spawn their very own travel boom…

Indiana Jones – Petra, Jordan

Dr Jones’ search for the Holy Grail takes him to ‘the Canyon of the Crescent Moon’ in the finale of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and the real-life location where it was filmed is steeped in no less historic mystique. Unknown to the west until 1812, the ‘rose red city’ of Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site described by the organisation as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”. Two decades after the cinematic debut that gave it worldwide exposure, Petra remains Jordan’s most popular attraction.

The Da Vinci Code – France, Italy & Wales

If there’s one author that’s done Europe’s travel agents a favour it’s undoubtedly Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code. The book was an instant best-seller and, following its film adaption, has now given rise to a host of themed tours across Europe. Brown’s story follows protagonist Robert Langdon on a quest to solve the mystery of the Holy Grail, taking in everywhere from the Welsh town of Llangollen to the Louvre’s pyramid in Paris. One canny tour operator in Rome has even launched an official “Angels and Demons tour,” which takes in sites featured in Brown’s precursor to The Da Vinci Code.

Lord of the Rings – New Zealand

It’s often said that Peter Jackson’s acclaimed adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was shot in New Zealand due to its stunning geographical diversity, which aptly portrays the world of Tolkien’s novels. And it now seems the scenery has captured viewers’ imaginations as much as the story itself – ‘Tolkien Tourism’ has flourished, with fans coming in droves to see the big-screen Lothlórien, Rivendell, and Mordor. New Zealand has welcomed them with open arms, setting up guided tours and encouraging exploration of their very own Middle Earth.

The Blues Brothers – Chicago, USA

Musical comedy The Blues Brothers not only earned a cult following for itself but also attracted growing numbers of tourists to Chicago, in whose underbelly film was set. Featuring musical numbers by the likes of James Brown and Aretha Franklin, the movie thrust the Windy City into the spotlight and to this day continues to inspire generations of travellers. It also ushered in a new wave of filmmaking in Chicago, which has been the setting of some 200 movies since The Blues Brothers in 1979.

Lost – Hawaii, USA

For all its perils there are certainly worse places to be marooned than Lost’s enigmatic, unnamed island. Visitors are unlikely, however, to find any polar bears in Hawaiian island Oahu where much of the series was filmed, although its golden beaches and lush tropical greenery will certainly be familiar. Holiday bookings have leapt since the show began, and it’s likely that after spending some time in this sun-kissed paradise, many visitors wish there wasn’t a plane coming to take them home again.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Picture credit: alexsaes)

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