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Tourists to flock to Lyra's Oxford
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| Jane Lubbock and Digna Martinez |
Blockbuster movie The Golden Compass could bring up to one million more film buffs to Oxford, the city's tourism chief has claimed.
Jane Lubbock, facilities manager at Oxford City Council, said the movie adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel Northern Lights - released next week - will help generate at least an extra £15m for Oxford's economy.
She predicted visitor numbers to Oxford would break 10 million for the first time in 2008 as 'set-jetters' - people who visit film and TV locations - flock to the city to follow in the footsteps of the film's stars, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.
Parts of The Golden Compass were shot in several Oxford locations, including Radcliffe Square, Christ Church and Exeter College, in June.
Previous movies shot in Oxford - including Harry Potter and The Italian Job - and TV programme Inspector Morse all boosted tourism.
Ms Lubbock said the city council would capitalise by staging a Golden Compass theme tour called Lyra's Oxford next year.
She added: "This film is great news for Oxford. It is a significant help to us breaking the 10 million figure.
"People planning their holidays next year will see the film and it will remind them that Oxford is a great place to come and see. Set-jetting is going to be a new form of tourism.
"We would expect it to generate an additional £15m based on visitor numbers."
In 2006, tourism generated more than £736m for Oxford's economy.
Ms Lubbock said floods had caused year-on-year visits to the Tourist Information Centre in Broad Street to fall by 3,000 in July, a drop of around six per cent.
But she said year-on-year figures for August had improved by 5,000, and that Oxford could expect around 9.5 million visits in 2007, compared with 8.8 million in 2006.
Michael Grange, general manager of The Randolph Hotel, in Beaumont Street, said: "You cannot buy all this advertising."
David Strainge, project manager for City Sightseeing Oxford, said: "All publicity is good publicity - and this is a lot of publicity."
Stephen Woodhouse, manager of the Malmaison, in New Road, said: "It will mean more people will want to come to Oxford."
6:00am Friday 30th November 2007
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CommentPosted by: K, Oxford on 11:50am Fri 30 Nov 07
Harry Potter and the Italian Job?!! I must have missed that one!
Harry Potter and the Italian Job?!! I must have missed that one!
Posted by: Noam, Oxford on 2:42pm Fri 30 Nov 07
Wasn't the Italian Job filmed in, er, Italy?
Wasn't the Italian Job filmed in, er, Italy?
Posted by: Peter, Oxford on 4:31pm Fri 30 Nov 07
[quote]Ms Lubbock said the city council would capitalise by staging a Golden Compass theme tour called Lyra's Oxford next year.[/quote]
Shortly followed by The Great Wheelie Bin Adventure Tour, The Polish Comunity Tour, The Noisy Mosque Tour and The Tour Where Footpaths Once Were.
Ms Lubbock said the city council would capitalise by staging a Golden Compass theme tour called Lyra's Oxford next year.
Shortly followed by The Great Wheelie Bin Adventure Tour, The Polish Comunity Tour, The Noisy Mosque Tour and The Tour Where Footpaths Once Were.
Posted by: the great coon, tampa, florida on 10:29pm Fri 30 Nov 07
it is said that the 'golden compass' is anti-catholic' here in the states. isn't nicole kidman irish? hey, i want to go on the wheelie bin tour, does that include rides too? sounds like more fun than our busch gardens.
a bientot,
the great coon.
it is said that the 'golden compass' is anti-catholic' here in the states. isn't nicole kidman irish? hey, i want to go on the wheelie bin tour, does that include rides too? sounds like more fun than our busch gardens.
a bientot,
the great coon.
Posted by: Roger, Oxford on 11:26pm Fri 30 Nov 07
The author is now pretending that it isn't anti-catholic, but calling one of the villains Fra Pavel seems to me a bit of a giveaway.
If this great coon ever goes to Northern Ireland, he needs to remember that not all Irish people are Roman Catholics.
The Polish Community Tour would be the best choice. Excellent food.
The author is now pretending that it isn't anti-catholic, but calling one of the villains Fra Pavel seems to me a bit of a giveaway.
If this great coon ever goes to Northern Ireland, he needs to remember that not all Irish people are Roman Catholics.
The Polish Community Tour would be the best choice. Excellent food.
Posted by: Rachael, Headington on 12:18pm Mon 3 Dec 07
...except Fra Pavel[italic]isn't[/italic] a villain.
...except Fra Pavel
isn't a villain.
Posted by: adrian, oxford on 7:31pm Sun 9 Dec 07
go to www.jcby.co.uk and see the horror of what Spring want to put on the site of the jericho boatyard on the canal that Pullman writes about.
The 'Gyptians' boatyard' could be one of Oxford's main tourist attractions and the developers, Spring, want to concrete it over in expensive buy to let properties.
Come to the planning meeting at Ox Town Hall 5pm on the 11 th Dec to stop this .
go to www.jcby.co.uk and see the horror of what Spring want to put on the site of the jericho boatyard on the canal that Pullman writes about.
The 'Gyptians' boatyard' could be one of Oxford's main tourist attractions and the developers, Spring, want to concrete it over in expensive buy to let properties.
Come to the planning meeting at Ox Town Hall 5pm on the 11 th Dec to stop this .
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