Northern Ireland continues its efforts to make the country the number-one tourist destination for Game of Thrones fans. A couple of weeks ago, we reported that local authorities wanted to erect signs in Knockdhu and Shilnavogy Valley to alert tourists to the fact that these areas have been used as Game of Thrones shooting locations. The Shilnavogy Valley sign, above, talks about how the area stood in for the Dothraki Sea in Season 1.
Now, the Ballymena & Antrim Times reports that the proposals have been approved. Authorities hope to have both signs, which cost around £2000 ($2805.85) apiece, up before the Season 6 premiere on April 24.
The sign to go up at Knockdhu, near Cairncastle.
This is not surprising. As a report by the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council states, “there are tourism, PR and marketing opportunities in being associated with the Game of Thrones branding and international marketing campaigns.” The report also mentions the show’s prodigious following on Facebook and Twitter, because Northern Ireland’s local authorities are hip to the social media all the kids like.
Tourism Ireland, the organization mandated to promote both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland abroad, already makes heavy use of the show to draw in tourists, and it’s neat to see local authorities getting in on the fun. “We expect tourism from this region to grow between 5 and 10 per cent this year,” said Niall Gibbons, the chief executive of Tourism Ireland. “There is a lot of untapped potential and despite the economic difficulties, there are still people who will take a holiday, and we need to capitalise on tourism.” We can expect Game of Thrones to play a big part in that growth.
And opportunities keep coming in. Recently, the Mountains of Mourne were voted as having the best views in Northern Ireland, according to a survey in The Countryman magazine. The entrance to Vaes Dothrak was filmed around this area, and the promotional material practically writes itself. “Come see where Game of Thrones is filmed and experience the best views in the country!”
h/t The National, Belfast Telegraph