Ireland uses the Force to grow tourism as Star Wars campaign gets interstellar launch
POSTED 03 Jan 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
The sign for Ireland's latest tourism campaign travelled into space via weather balloon Credit: Tourism Ireland
Tourism Ireland has taken its Star Wars visitor campaign to a whole new level, by launching its latest project in space.
Hoping to draw extra-terrestrial eyes and possibly those a little closer to home, the interstellar campaign was launched via a weather balloon into space to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in December.
The billboard features an image of Unesco World Heritage site Skellig Michael, with the ad promoting “Earth’s Wild Atlantic Way”, 33,390m (109,500ft) above sea level.
The island, which in The Last Jedi plays the location for Luke Skywalker’s remote hideout, lies off the coast of Ireland near Kerry and up until the 13th century was home to a small group of monks living in small stone “beehive” huts.
Because of its heritage designation, Skellig Michael is strictly protected under Unesco guidelines, with visits on a permit system originally capped at 11,100 annually.
Since the release of the first Star Wars film in the new trilogy, this figure has increased, rising to 14,000 in 2016 and 16,775 in 2017.
Visits are weather-contingent and run between May and October.
For more on Ieland’s Wild Atlantic Way campaign, see the latest issue of Leisure Management magazine, available here.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Ireland uses the Force to grow tourism as Star Wars campaign gets interstellar launch
POSTED 03 Jan 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
The sign for Ireland's latest tourism campaign travelled into space via weather balloon Credit: Tourism Ireland
Tourism Ireland has taken its Star Wars visitor campaign to a whole new level, by launching its latest project in space.
Hoping to draw extra-terrestrial eyes and possibly those a little closer to home, the interstellar campaign was launched via a weather balloon into space to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in December.
The billboard features an image of Unesco World Heritage site Skellig Michael, with the ad promoting “Earth’s Wild Atlantic Way”, 33,390m (109,500ft) above sea level.
The island, which in The Last Jedi plays the location for Luke Skywalker’s remote hideout, lies off the coast of Ireland near Kerry and up until the 13th century was home to a small group of monks living in small stone “beehive” huts.
Because of its heritage designation, Skellig Michael is strictly protected under Unesco guidelines, with visits on a permit system originally capped at 11,100 annually.
Since the release of the first Star Wars film in the new trilogy, this figure has increased, rising to 14,000 in 2016 and 16,775 in 2017.
Visits are weather-contingent and run between May and October.
For more on Ieland’s Wild Atlantic Way campaign, see the latest issue of Leisure Management magazine, available here.
Scott Trowbridge, the Disney Imagineer leading the creative vision for its Star Wars-themed projects,
has revealed details of the operator’s planned Galaxy’s Edge lands, coming to California and Orlando
in 2019.
The Eiffel Tower, Grand Canyon and Sydney Harbour are among 20 global landmarks that
will be tied to the Star Wars universe as part of the second annual Force Friday
event, with AR experiences and a pop-up treasure hunt calling on fans to “find the force”.
Disney has announced a slew of new additions for its parks worldwide, including a Star
Wars hotel, Marvel and Pixar attractions, and the very first ride for the company's iconic
figurehead, Mickey Mouse.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Populous have unveiled their plans for a state-of-the-art e-sports arena, designed to stand as a
central landmark in Qiddaya City’s gaming and e-sports district, Saudi Arabia.