Beautiful locations, movie backdrops
Agoda recommends going on a film-inspired journey
WHETHER it is a popular drama series or a movie blockbuster, reel tourism can help boost development for many destinations. For example, popular South Korean drama series Winter Sonata, which first aired in 2002, featured the country’s resort island Nami Island.
Till today, many fans of the series flock to the half-moon shaped island in Chuncheon at Gangwon Province to pose underneath the pine and maple trees, just like its stars Bae Yong-joon and Choi Jiwoo.
Apart from Nami Island, there are many beautiful locations worldwide that once served as movie backdrop.
Agoda.com lists some of the locations you can check out:
1. ACTION-PACKED HOLIDAY SPOTS
If you fancy playing action hero for a day or two, head to Queenstown, New Zealand, where Mission Impossible: Fallout filmed its helicopter action sequence. Take a helicopter ride and indulge in the country’s other extreme sports, from bungee jumping to heliskiing.
If sci-fi and the chance to run into dinosaurs in the modern world is more your thing, head to Oahu, Hawaii, the setting for Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom.
Not only is it an excellent backdrop for extinct creatures, but also for travellers looking for a holiday full of sea, volcanoes, outdoor sports and lush nature.
2. FILM-INSPIRED CITY BREAKS
Romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians has travellers going crazy for Singapore. The movie captured multiple locations across Singapore, from the famous Gardens by the Bay to food hawker stalls at Newton Food Centre, which lends itself to a full itinerary for travellers keen to explore the Lion City.
Remember the car chase scenes that took place on the streets of Busan, a port city in South Korea, or the epic fight in a casino in Marvel’s Black Panther?
Though the glamorous underground casino doesn’t exist in real life, you can pretend otherwise at one of Busan’s swanky cocktail lounges or nightclubs.
During the day, check out Busan’s beaches, hot springs, temples, and shrines — local gems that didn’t make the cut for the film.
3. TAKE NOTE OF MUSICAL DESTINATIONS
The City of Angels was the backdrop for many of the scenes in the remake of A Star is Born, the romantic drama about a seasoned country musician eclipsed by his rising star of a partner. Throughout the movie, many of its noteworthy concert scenes were shot across a number of Los Angeles venues, including the 5,870-seat music venue Greek Theatre, the cozy Regent Theatre, and the Shrine Auditorium, a landmark venue where multiple film and music award events have been held.
If your taste in music is more classic rock than country, this award-winning biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody about one of the greatest rock bands of all time should be on your must-watch list.
The movie is framed around the band’s Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium. Home to England’s football, Wembley is also still one of the most popular venues for major artistes to perform.