The “Outlander” effect has delivered a £5 million boost to the economies of Tayside and Fife.
The time travel drama was one of a number of top productions to use Courier Country locations for filming.
A new report by regional screen offices TayScreen and FifeScreen said total production spend in Tayside and Fife rose by 51% to £2.8 million between 2015 and 2017, delivering an overall economic boost of £5 million.
But the report also states that films and television series also have an even greater impact in bringing tourists to the east coast of Scotland.
Around 40% of visitors are now thought to have planned their trip after being inspired by what they have seen on screen.
The report states: “Films and TV are not just for watching.
“Media production is thriving in Fife and Tayside with teams coming to shoot here, and more and more local people getting involved in the industry.”
Although Outlander is the biggest hit to be filmed in Tayside and Fife in recent years, films such as Tommy’s Honour, about golfing legends Old and Young Tom Morris, and the remake of Whisky Galore have also been shot here.
In addition, Tayside and Fife have been used as locations for TV shows such as Wahlburgers, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeway and in commercials for products including cars, whisky and beer.
Fashion magazine Vogue even used The Horn Milk Bar between Dundee and Perth as a location for a cover shoot.
The report added: “Screen presence had many similarities with product placement except that we are capitalising on ‘free’ opportunities for the region to be represented by locations, whether themselves or standing in for somewhere else, or by the region’s people, businesses, services and stories.
“Beyond production spending, the screen office and productions contribute to raising the profile of the Fife and Tayside region and each partner council area as a leisure tourist destination and for wider business and economic development.
“The region can even benefit as a whole from productions that shoot in only one area. For example, the movie ‘Tommy’s Honour’ will resonate with golf fans everywhere and offer opportunities to promote this key asset across the region.”
FifeScreen and TayScreen have now produced an interactive map which allows visitors to see what was filmed where
Across Scotland, production spent in 2016 was around £52 million, up 15% from the year before.
Jenni Steele, film and creative industries manager at VisitScotland, said: “Set-jetting, where people visit locations and other destinations associated with the movies, is a popular trend, with 40% of visitors to the UK inspired to come here after seeing a location on film or on television.
“It’s fantastic to see that Fife and Tayside, with their stunning scenery and outstanding attractions, are enjoying an upsurge in filming.
“Productions such as Outlander have helped highlight some of the region’s best attractions to a global audience, with Aberdour Castle and Falkland Palace enjoying significant increases in visitor numbers.
“After the recent release of Whisky Galore!, Tommy’s Honour hitting cinemas next month and the new series of Outlander coming out later this year, set-jetting in Fife and Tayside looks set to go from strength to strength.”
The Courier has also played its part in highlighting local scenes, with the recent release of a new advert shot locally.