Travel company state films influence travel trends

The popularity of holiday destinations is determined by a number of factors, including what films are doing well at the box office, DialAFlight has suggested.

According to the company, New Zealand is set to be a popular destination as a result of Peter Jackson's latest film project, The Hobbit Part 1.

It states: "DialAFlight is predicting that New Zealand is once again set for a heavy influx of ... tourism. The Hobbit is set to out-do its weighty big brother's The Lord of the Rings sweet successes."

The company has suggested that the popularity of the country, which rose as a result of Jackson's earlier film trilogy has not shown signs of slowing.

New Zealand's "extraordinary landscapes" are thought by the company to be the main attraction of the country.

In his book The Making of the Movie Trilogy, Brian Sibley describes how the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot in New Zealand at more than 150 different locations.