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Fantasy TV series Game of Thrones has inspired a surge in tourism to County Antrim, Northern Ireland, according to travel trends data released today by TripAdvisor.
County Antrim, which is home to a host of filming locations for popular TV series Game of Thrones, has seen the biggest year-on-year increase in interest from international tourists of any UK county.
Since 2014, County Antrim has seen interest from international tourists increase on TripAdvisor by 65%, while the numbers of domestic travellers has also increased by 47%.
Elsewhere in the UK, Bristol has enjoyed the second highest increase in international traveller interest year-on-year, while Greater Manchester and Wiltshire benefitted from the biggest boost in domestic traveller interest – up 53%.
A spokesman for TripAdvisor said: “Studies like this show how quickly outside influences can impact tourism to a particular destination, with County Antrim being the most recent destination to benefit from film and TV tourism.
“Spotting trends like this early can give independent hotels and bed-and-breakfast owners a big advantage.”
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The top 10 UK counties with the biggest year-on-year increase in international traveller interest:
- Country Antrim – 65%
- Bristol – 37%
- Yorkshire – 36%
- Tyne and Wear – 34%
- Belfast – 32%
- Lancashire – 32%
- West Midlands – 32%
- South Wales – 31%
- Hampshire – 31%
- The Hebrides – 30%
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The top ten UK counties with the biggest year-on-year increase in domestic traveller interest:
- Greater Manchester – 53%
- Wiltshire – 53%
- Merseyside – 52%
- South Wales – 50%
- Bristol – 49%
- London – 48%
- West Midlands – 48%
- Tyne and Wear – 47%
- Essex – 47%
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