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4% of the production budget for each feature film in Spain is earmarked for travel and accommodation.

The audiovisual industry is booming and Galicia does not want to remain on the sidelines of a dynamic which, as well as generating significant economic activity in the sector itself, can have an impact on tourism both immediately and directly and indirectly in the medium term. This is the case with the travel, accommodation and catering needs required by the large technical and artistic casts of the filming crews of a series or a film, but also with the promotional impact that these audiovisual works have on the resources and attractions of a territory (heritage, landscape, gastronomy, etc.), thus leading to an increase in the number of visitors.

The first four film shoots promoted by the Xunta through its Audiovisual Hub of the Cultural Industry have generated a total direct and indirect impact on the Galician economy of 15 million euros, according to the calculations of the regional administration. And, although it is difficult to quantify precisely, there is no doubt that part of this amount has ended up in the accommodation and catering sector.

According to the Report on the Opportunities for Audiovisual Content in Spain prepared by the consultancy firm PwC and the producers’ association PATE, the average expenditure on travel and hotels for the shooting of a feature film represents 4% of the total investment, which, according to the data for 2019, represents 136,400 euros for each film out of the average total cost of 3.41 million euros. Taking into account that during that year the total number of feature film productions, shootings and premieres in Spain amounted to 265, the impact on the travel and accommodation sector could be around 36 million euros. And to this figure should be added that generated by other audiovisual products such as series, short films and even content such as entertainment programmes or the broadcasting of sporting or musical events.

In order to try to increase the percentage of these investments that reach Galicia, entities have been set up at local and provincial level to facilitate the development of these projects. This is the case of the specific offices created by the city councils of Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, and Pontevedra, by the Provincial Council of Lugo, or the one recently announced by the Provincial Council of Ourense. In addition, the Xunta is also working on setting up a similar entity at regional level, a project that is also on the work agenda of the Galician Audiovisual Cluster, and the city council of A Coruña and the Galician Audiovisual Academy have promoted an Audiovisual Cooperation Office (ACO).