Malta Movie Trail launched to attract more screen tourism visitors

The Malta Tourism Authority, in partnership with the Malta Film Commission, has announced that they will be providing visitors with a chance to visit some of the Islands’ most iconic film locations, in a tour named the Malta Movie Trail. Since 1925, around 150 feature films and television productions have been produced in Malta. Although the movies shot in Malta vary in size, some of the larger productions that have seen filming in Malta are: Munich, Troy, Gladiator, Waterfront, Risen, Assassin’s Creed, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Renegades and By the Sea. In addition, various scenes from the popular HBO series Game of Thrones, have been shot in Malta.

Moreover, informative panels will be placed in Valletta, to form part of the Malta Movie Trail. The placards will be displaying information about the various locations where popular films were shots, such as:

• Valletta (5 panels – East Street, St Elmo, Waterfront, Upper Barrakka and City Gate/Valletta entrance)

• Marsaxlokk (Munich)

• Comino (The Count of Monte Cristo)

• Birgu (The Count of Monte Cristo)

• Ghajn Tuffieha Bay (Troy)

• Mdina (Game of Thrones, Count of Monte Cristo)

• Mgarr ix-Xini (By the Sea)

• Dwejra (Game of Thrones, Clash of the Titans)

In a statement given about the new Malta Movie Trail, the Malta Tourism Authority CEO, Mr. Paul Bugeja, stated: “For many years, Malta has managed to be successful in the film industry, by attracting a number of international productions of a certain caliber. Now we would like to make this success into an interesting tourism product, where, together with the Malta Film Commission and the Ministry for Tourism, we are implementing a number of initiatives. A while back we organized some special courses for guides in relation to screen tourism, and we also awarded certificates to those that completed the course successfully. Now we are inaugurating a number of informative panels at locations used for filming. This is a new niche for the Maltese Islands and we believe that it can attract a number of visitors over the next few years.”

The Film Commissioner, Mr. Engelbert Grech, also gave a statement regarding the new program. He stated: “Around the world, Malta is known as a unique country which is used to shoot big films. It is an honor that these films are providing the country with an alternate identity and contributing to more tourists choosing Malta.”

PHOTO: Fort Ricasoli, Malta. This location has been featured in Gladiator (2000), Troy (2004), and Agora (2009) among others. / Photo from Malta Film Commission