March 1, 2022 – Croatia continues to top lists of notable filming locations, largely due to its Game of Thrones fame

Interest in Croatia as a filming location has only increased lately: the country hosted more than 20 international productions in the first half of 2021 alone. Several hits filmed in Croatia, such as The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and Bliss, came out last year, and Netflix thriller The Weekend Away, largely shot in Split, is set to premiere this week.

It’s no secret that Croatia has benefited greatly from film-induced tourism, mainly due to its Game of Thrones fame. As Morski.hr reports, Croatia ranks third on the list of eight destinations that have generated substantial income from tourism, compiled by Unforgettable Croatia.

London tops the list, as the eight Harry Potter films generated so much tourist traffic that they generated a staggering $5.3 billion in total revenue. New Zealand follows with $1.3 billion in film tourism, brought in by cult classics The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Croatia ranks third thanks to Dubrovnik and its Game of Thrones fame – no surprises there. Fans of the hugely popular TV series flocked to Dubrovnik shortly after the walled city made its on-screen debut as King’s Landing, earning a total of $203 million from tourism induced by Game of Thrones between 2013 and 2018.

Here’s how Croatia ranks against other destinations that have benefited the most from film tourism (in USD):

1. London, England / Harry Potter – 5.3 billion
2. Waikato, New Zealand / The Hobbit & LOTR – 1.6 billion
3. Dubrovnik, Croatia / Game of Thrones – 203 million
4. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA / Breaking Bad – 70 million
5. Stirling, Scotland / Braveheart – 47 million
6. Forks, Washington, USA / Twilight – 46.2 million
7. Kho Phi Phi Leh, Thailand / The Beach – 13 million
8. Skellig Michael, Ireland/Star Wars – 4.5 million

Check out our list of filming locations in Croatia beyond Game of Thrones.