China: Movie-inspired tours boom in China.

Storyline Movie-inspired tours boom in China Set-jetting, or visiting the locations featured in movies, is popular in China. The picturesque Dapeng Peninsula in south China's Shenzhen City has been in several films, including "The Mermaid", a movie directed by famous Chinese comedian Stephen Chow. Four movie-inspired travel routes organized by the local authorities are attracting an increasing number of tourists. Zou Wan, office worker, Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen's Yantian District: "We worked with scenic spots, business districts and hotels to launch over 30 activities to promote consumption in culture, sports and tourism. These measures have boosted both popularity and consumption of Yantian's culture-tourism sector." An ancient town in Deqing County, of east China's Zhejiang Province is also welcoming a growing number of tourists. They come to wander through the filming locations featured in the movie "Gone with the Boat" about a family living near the canal. Experts say set-jetting is a natural extension for a film-lover's favorite passion. Chen Tao, vice dean, School of Literature, Renmin University of China: "The reason why people love to spend more on experience of movie intellectual properties is that they love those movies and their cultural values. This type of consumption is more than simply buying goods. It has become a comprehensive consumption that enables customers to buy things and have immersive and spiritual experience at the same time." So far this year tourist visits to the ancient town have increased by more than 30 percent, and tourism revenue has climbed by more than 35-percent compared to the same period last year. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]