Working collaboratively to accelerate the growth of tourism

does not have the film industry legacy of other European countries but even from a university perspective, we have seen several former students undertaking seasonal work and training opportunities in the industry that may not previously have existed and that knowledge transfer will be crucial for constant improvement.

“Despite its legacy, Scotland has undoubtedly suffered because it does not have the dominant studio space offering that exists here. Northern Ireland does have advantages that other countries do not and as a result, where previously many people in Northern Ireland involved in the film industry had to seek work in London and elsewhere, there are now more and more people being retained in a thriving industry.”

Asked about sustainability, with fears raised over over-investment in products that retain relatively short shelf lives, Baschiera remains optimistic.

“I believe that the right things are in place for Northern Ireland to succeed in this sector even when Game of Thrones is completed. Currently, we have good infrastructure and experienced crews. The variety of locations offered in a short driving distance from Belfast will remain a strong attraction for every production. Moreover, our studio space, in terms of square metre, can compete with most countries in Europe and as a place Northern Ireland’s reputation for accommodation, food and drink etcetera has increased,” he says.

“However, there are challenges. Global competition exists and many other countries and regions will be competing to host future productions and screen tourists. Northern Ireland initially had a slightly delayed reaction to capitalising on the popularity of Game of Thrones from a touristic perspective, but now has a far greater offering. Globally people know that much of the production is set here. The association between Northern Ireland and GOT was also stressed by events like the Queen visiting ‘the iron throne’. However, not every production will provide the same level of interest and Northern Ireland must be able to capitalise and properly market those that do.

Asked where Northern Ireland should be looking for further production and the whether there was the potential to create a home-grown production of similar magnitude, Baschiera believes the main focus should be put on competitiveness.

“With the changing production landscape, because of the likes of Amazon and Netflix, Northern Ireland has more opportunities to attract inwards investment and high end productions. The future challenges, however, consist in the involvement of private investment at national level in film production,” he says.

“I think fantasy/sci-fi suits Northern Ireland’s niche strengths best for big production. We can’t compete with the metropolitan offering of Europe’s biggest cities but we have the scenery, logistics and location to be a leading attraction. Evolving digital technology will be a key part of all future major productions and Northern Ireland must ensure that has the ability to innovate and skill in this area.”