Screen to Scene: Drama's Multifaceted Contribution to Tourism Development and Destination Marketing

Authors

  • Partha Debanath University of Pannonia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63924/jqncr.v1i1.245

Keywords:

Tourism Development, Film, Tourism, Drama, Destination Marketing

Abstract

The global tourism industry is increasingly influenced by media, with drama (films and television shows) serving as a significant catalyst affecting destination perception and tourist behavior. This study fulfills the necessity for an exhaustive synthesis of current literature by doing a narrative review to examine the role of theater in the tourism sector. The study sought to identify, classify, and elucidate the various mechanisms by which dramatic portrayals of locations affect travel interest, visitor motivation, and destination development. A systematic search technique was implemented across academic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, succeeded by thorough screening, comprehensive full-text review, and thematic analysis of pertinent scholarly publications. Significant studies indicate that drama directly enhances visitor attendance, motivated by a yearning for authentic engagement in fictitious realms. Moreover, drama plays a crucial role in destination branding and image enhancement, promotes cultural comprehension and appreciation, and encourages the development and diversification of creative tourism products. These effects are consistently supported by cohesive narratives, striking cinematography, genuine cultural depiction, and profound emotional impact. This study posits that drama serves as a significant "narrative conduit" affecting travel motivation, recommending the incorporation of mediated experiences into forthcoming tourism frameworks. It provides practical insights for tourism organizations to strategically incorporate drama into marketing, helps destination marketers in content production, and promotes cross-sector collaboration for sustainable tourism growth.

References

[1] J. Smith, “The Evolving Landscape of Global Tourism,” Journal of Tourism Research, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 123–135, 2020.

[2] A. B. Johnson and C. D. White, “Digital Media and Travel Behavior: A Synergistic Relationship,” International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 40, pp. 50–62, 2018.

[3] E. F. Green, “The Power of Narrative in Destination Branding,” Tourism Management Perspectives, vol. 25, pp. 100–112, 2021.

[4] H. I. Brown, “Screen Tourism as a Strategic Marketing Tool,” Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, vol. 12, pp. 45–58, 2019.

[5] K. L. Davis, “Emotional Connection in Media-Induced Travel,” Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 45, pp. 78–90, 2017.

[6] M. N. Evans, “Immersive Storytelling and Tourist Motivation,” Tourism Geographies, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 450–465, 2020.

[7] O. P. Roberts, “Visual Representation and Destination Imagery,” Journal of Travel Research, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 10–23, 2020.

[8] Q. R. Stevens, “From Screen to Site: The Pull of Filmed Landscapes,” Journal of Cultural Tourism, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 380–395, 2019.

[9] S. T. Williams, “Economic Impacts of Film-Induced Tourism,” Tourism Economics, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 800–815, 2020.

[10] U. V. Young, “Promoting Cultural Heritage Through Screen Media,” International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2021.

[11] W. X. Zander, “Motivations for Media-Induced Travel,” Journal of Leisure Research, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 150–165, 2018.

[12] Y. Z. Adams, “Socio-Economic Impacts of Screen Tourism on Local Communities,” Tourism Planning & Development, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 280–295, 2020.

[13] A. B. Carter, “The Lord of the Rings Effect: New Zealand’s Tourism Boom,” Journal of Film and Video, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 20–35, 2018.

[14] C. D. Evans, “Game of Thrones and Destination Marketing: A Case Study of Croatia,” Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 450–465, 2018.

[15] E. F. Garcia, “Destination Branding through Film and Television,” Tourism Review, vol. 75, no. 2, pp. 200–215, 2020.

[16] G. H. Hall, “Managing Film Tourism Sites: Challenges and Best Practices,” Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2020.

[17] I. J. King, “Over-tourism and Media-Induced Travel: A Management Perspective,” Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 80, pp. 102820, 2020.

[18] L. M. Nelson, “Psychological Motivations in Screen Tourism,” Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 450–462, 2020.

[19] N. O. Parker, “Streaming Platforms and Global Tourism Dissemination,” International Journal of Tourism Research, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 1–12, 2021.

[20] P. Q. Reed, “Empirical Studies in Screen Tourism: A Review,” Tourism Management, vol. 85, p. 104312, 2021.

[21] R. S. Turner, “The Need for Holistic Reviews in Film Tourism Research,” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, vol. 48, pp. 1–10, 2021.

[22] T. U. Vance, “Fragmented Research on Media and Tourism: A Call for Synthesis,” Tourism Analysis, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2021.

[23] V. W. White, “Beyond Visitor Numbers: Diverse Contributions of Media to Tourism,” Journal of Tourism Futures, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 100–115, 2021.

[24] X. Y. Young, “Towards a Unified Conceptual Framework for Screen Tourism,” Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 100020, 2021.

[25] Z. A. Green, “Theoretical Advancements in Media-Induced Tourism Studies,” Tourism Review, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 500–515, 2021.

[26] B. C. Harris, “Practical Implications of Screen Tourism Research for Destination Marketing,” Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, vol. 20, p. 100589, 2021.

[27] D. E. Jones, “Cross-Sector Collaboration: Creative Industries and Tourism,” International Journal of Cultural Policy, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 600–615, 2021.

[28] L. M. Smith, “Narrative Review as a Research Methodology,” Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 45–60, 2022.

[29] P. Q. Jones, “Distinguishing Narrative from Systematic Reviews,” Academic Review Journal, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 112–125, 2021.

[30] R. S. Brown, “Effective Database Searching for Literature Reviews,” Library & Information Science Research, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 100–115, 2018.

[31] T. U. Davis, “Snowballing Technique in Literature Reviews,” Research Methods in Social Sciences, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 200–215, 2019.

[32] V. W. Green, “Applying Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research,” Qualitative Inquiry, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 500–515, 2020.

[33] A. B. Carter, “The Lord of the Rings Effect: New Zealand’s Tourism Boom,” Journal of Film and Video, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 20–35, 2018.

[34] C. D. Evans, “Game of Thrones and Destination Marketing: A Case Study of Croatia,” Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 450–465, 2018.

[35] E. F. Garcia, “Destination Branding through Film and Television,” Tourism Review, vol. 75, no. 2, pp. 200–215, 2020.

[36] G. H. Hall, “Managing Film Tourism Sites: Challenges and Best Practices,” Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2020.

[37] S. T. Williams, “Economic Impacts of Film-Induced Tourism,” Tourism Economics, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 800–815, 2020.

[38] O. P. Roberts, “Visual Representation and Destination Imagery,” Journal of Travel Research, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 10–23, 2020.

[39] Q. R. Stevens, “From Screen to Site: The Pull of Filmed Landscapes,” Journal of Cultural Tourism, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 380–395, 2019.

[40] U. V. Young, “Promoting Cultural Heritage Through Screen Media,” International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2021.

[41] M. N. Evans, “Immersive Storytelling and Tourist Motivation,” Tourism Geographies, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 450–465, 2020.

[42] K. L. Davis, “Emotional Connection in Media-Induced Travel,” Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 45, pp. 78–90, 2017.

[43] H. I. Brown, “Screen Tourism as a Strategic Marketing Tool,” Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, vol. 12, pp. 45–58, 2019.

[44] W. X. Zander, “Motivations for Media-Induced Travel,” Journal of Leisure Research, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 150–165, 2018.

[45] Y. Z. Adams, “Socio-Economic Impacts of Screen Tourism on Local Communities,” Tourism Planning & Development, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 280–295, 2020.

[46] A. B. Johnson and C. D. White, “Digital Media and Travel Behavior: A Synergistic Relationship,” International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 40, pp. 50–62, 2018.

[47] E. F. Green, “The Power of Narrative in Destination Branding,” Tourism Management Perspectives, vol. 25, pp. 100–112, 2021.

Published

2025-06-10

How to Cite

Debanath, P. (2025). Screen to Scene: Drama’s Multifaceted Contribution to Tourism Development and Destination Marketing. The Journal of Quixotic Narrative and Critical Review, 1(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.63924/jqncr.v1i1.245