The Role of Central Park in New York's Movie Tourism Industry - Research Paper Example

THE ROLE OF CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORKS MOVIE TOURISM INDUSTRY] ) Part 4: Results and Discussion Interviews on respondents were carried out to find out the role of Central Park in New York’s movie tourism industry. All the interviewed respondents had visited New York by the time they were interviewed. Each of the respondents was asked questions pertaining to movie tours and Central Park in New York, where movies and TV shows are filmed. Generally, from the respondents’ answers, it was established that Central Park plays a significant role in the New York movie tourism industry. The elevated tourists’ visits to New York can be attributed to the influence of movie filming and tourism in Central Park. Central Park and Movie Tourism as a Tourist Attraction in New York Majority of the respondents indicated that they would visit New York on the basis of movie tours. Out of the 10 respondents, 60% indicated, in their responses, that they would specifically prioritise movie tours when they visited New York. In fact, only respondents 2, 7, 9 and 10 said they would not have movie tours as a specific priority, if they visited New York. The other respondents, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 would specifically prioritise movie tours when they visited New York. This is in line with the literature, which indicates that the use of Central Park as a site for shooting films attracts tourists, especially those who have watched movies such as Spiderman and Marathon Man (Central Park Conservancy, 2009, p.28). Among the places that most tourists would like to visit is New York because of the Central Park. The Park influences the choice of a destination by many tourists in terms of movie tourism. Most people resolve to visit New York and then Central Park because of the preconception they have created about its nature, culture and people, after watching movies. Given that movies filmed at the Central Park are very famous, people have acquired knowledge about the places in which these movies are filmed. Therefore, they would like to visit the Park, leading to the promotion of movie tourism in New York. From the interviews, all the ten respondents indicated that they knew that movies and shows were filmed in New York after watching them. The respondents have also indicated that they constructed a perception of New York City, based on what they had watched in the movies. For instance, respondent 1 demonstrated that he developed the perception that New York had excellent movie theatres, being one of the largest film industries in the globe. In addition, respondent 5 shows that, before visiting the city, he had a clear clue about the city’s movie tourism. The respondent said, “Before visiting the city, I had a clear clue about the city’s movie tourism. The knowledge I got from the different sets of movies that features various scenes acted in several spectacular areas of New York City”. It should be noted that movie tourism is promoted when movie fans focus their interest on cinematographic history by seeking an actual visiting experience (Schofield, 1996, p.334). Central Park, having been used as a site when shooting Spiderman 3, Home Alone 2, Sex and the City and other movies, has attracted many movie tourists to New York (Busby, Huang and Jarman, 2013, P.571). The study established that the movies, which the respondents had watched made them have various thoughts about New York. In fact, respondents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 had a perception that New York was a glamorous city. Respondent 1 said, “Home Alone 2 made me think there would be a load of snow throughout the city going in winter time and that the city is full of a variety of people. Also, Sex and the City made me think that the city would be glamorous and that you would be able to see celebrities all over the city.” All the other respondents indicated that they expected New York to be inhabited by super heroes and celebrities, seen throughout its streets. As for respondents, 7, 8, 9 and 10, they perceived New York as a cosmopolitan city, a busy place, a place with diverse culture, and a bigger and better city than London, respectively. Respondent 7 noted by saying “Movies and TV shows made me think that New York is very cosmopolitan because I could see people from around the world”. These results are in support of the literature about the role played by movies in attracting tourists into the Park. Most probably, these preconceptions about New York City motivated the respondents to visit New York City because they influence the choice of destinations for movie tourism, as asserted by Loumioti and Vagionis (2011, p.353). Impact of Popular Central Park Movies/TV Shows on Tourists’ Knowledge and Decisions Among the movies shot at Central Park, Home Alone 2 is the most famous because 90% of the respondents claimed it stood out. In fact, respondents 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 cited Home Alone 2 as an outstanding movie. Another movie that was cited often is Sex and the City. The fountain and the bridge were the most cited locations within Central Park by respondents as familiar locations. However, other locations such as the Boat House, Dakota Building and Plaza Hotel were cited by some respondents. It was established that 70% of the respondents acquired knowledge about movie tours after visiting New York. Respondents 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 felt that they knew about movie tours after visiting New York. Only 30% of the respondents claimed that they did not really know anything about movie tours, even after visiting New York. These are respondent 1, respondent 2 and respondent 9. It is imperative to note that movies or TV shows filmed in Central Park are the most famous, and they have influenced the knowledge of movie tourists of New York. The popular movies have also prompted tourists to visit New York, courtesy of the Central Park, where these popular movies are filmed. Extent to which Movie Tourism attracts Visitors and affects the Industry Only two respondents, respondent 1 and respondent 6 indicated that they would not visit Central Park, if it were not the most filmed location in New York. For instance, Respondent 6 affirmed, “There is a lot of history there (Central Park), but I don’t think that if there wasn’t the film industry I would like to visit it, if I had not enough time”. The rest of the respondents claimed that they would still visit Central Park, even if it were not the most filmed location in New York, depending on the weather and season of the year. Actually, the fact that the Central Park is the most filmed location in New York is still a factor that influences movie tourists’ choices. On the other hand, respondents 1, 4 and 6 think that both Central Park and movie tourism are important to each other. Respondents 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 10 think that Central Park is important to movie tourism while respondent 8 thinks that movie tourism is important to Central Park. Majority of the respondents, therefore, assert that Central Park is very important to movie tourism. Based on these findings, it was concluded that Central Park as a movie filming cite creates an enormous influence on the movie tourism industry of New York. For instance, many people would like to visit New York and prioritise movie tours within the city, especially the Central Park due to reality movies and TV shows such as Home Alone. Central Park has promoted ordinary streets within New York to attractive and ambient places that are mostly sought for by tourists. As a result of an increase in the number of tourists who visit film locations, new approaches to enhancing tourism such as organized tours, community festivals, memorabilia sales and hotel enhancements have been adopted (Riley, Baker and Van Doren, 1998, p.920). Part 5: Conclusion The study has adequately achieved the aims and objectives of the research. Central Park plays a remarkable role in the creation of jobs related to film and television production. For instance those who engage in photography within Central Park owe their jobs to Central Park. A movie tourism destination, Central Park has created a positive international image, which influences tourists’ choices in terms of destination. Through the movies, Central Park has made tourists to shift their travel preference towards New York, something that boosts the New York movie tourism industry. It is through cinematographic history of famous films acted within Central Park that most people are attracted to tour New York. The research sought to establish how the movies filmed in Central Park contribute towards the success of the New York movie tourism industry. In addition, the study sought to find out whether movie tourism is an important attraction of tourists to New York. In fact, it is through reality movies and TV shows that the perceptions of viewers about New York had been influenced. This is the reason that made most of the respondents to specifically prioritise movie tours when they visited New York City. They may not have prioritised movie tours in New York, i] had they not watched such movies and attached importance to Central Park. Central Park proves to be an appropriate location for movie scenes in an urban and natural environment because it is perceived to be pure, idyllic or unique. The most famous movies or TV shows filmed in Central Park that most tourists have current knowledge about are Home Alone 2 and Sex and the City. These movies made people yearn to visit the Park, which in turn helps to develop the New York’s movie tourism industry. For instance, all the ten respondents indicated that it is through the reality movies that they learnt about New York City as a good place for filming. They also created a perception that New York is an interesting and exciting place, with lots of unique features. However, these perceptions were contrary to the reality because most of the respondents indicate that when they actually visited New York City, they were met with different features of New York than they had expected. However, they toured the city and many others are expected to tour the city, based on the same reasons. The rate at which the movie tourism attracts visitors to Central Park is very high. As noted from the findings of the study, most people would like to visit Central Park because of the importance that they attach to the place, based on the movies that they have watched. In fact, respondents described New York as place where superheroes can be found walking on streets because it is glamorous, as per the perception created by the movies or TV shows. The reason for this assumption could be the use of celebrities in reality movies, which makes viewers think that the places where such movies were filmed are exciting and nice. The fact that watching reality movies and TV shows influences a person’s perception about a place or person is supported by evidence from the respondents that reality movies and TV shows made them to develop various perceptions about New York City. Therefore, it can be concluded that Central Park is very important to the movie tourism industry in New York City. References Busby, G., Huang, R., & Jarman, R. (2013). The Stein Effect: an Alternative Film-Induced Tourism Perspective. International Journal of Tourism Research, 15 (6), pp.570-582. Central Park Conservancy. (2009). Valuing Central Park’s Contributions to New York City’s Economy. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 23 February 2014]. Loumioti, M., & Vagionis, N. (2011). Movies as a Tool of Modern Marketing. An international Multidisciplinary Journal of Tourism, 6(2). Riley, R., Bake, D., & Van Doren, C. (1998). Movie Induced Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 25(4), pp.919-935. Schofield, P. (1996). Cinematographic Images of a City. Tourism Managemen, 17(5), pp.333-340. Read More