‘Game of Thrones’ generates 3.6 million euros for Girona

Barcelona (CNA).- The filming of the fantasy drama series 'Game of Thrones', based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, has had a positive direct impact on the city of Girona. A study analysing the period between the 1^st of May and 13^th of September commissioned by the City Council highlights the 10,443 publications which mentioned Girona, in both the press and on social networks, during this time. These publications that refer to 'Game of Thrones' and relate it to the city of Girona have received 1.3 billion views worldwide and have generated a great economic impact for the city valued at 3,670,244 euros.

Over a billion views worldwide

Girona’s City Council commissioned a specialist company to calculate the impact that filming in the city generated on the internet, from the point of view of comments on social networks such as specialised blogs and from media sites in general.

The company carried out the analysis from the 1^st of May to the 13^th of September and first data has already been released that demonstrates that the fact that HBO has been fixed in Girona has started to leave an internet footprint.

During this period, there were a total of 10,443 publications that spoke of 'Game of Thrones' and also made reference to “Girona”. Of these, 8,387 were 'posts' on social networks, 716 were news stories and 1,340 were blog or web publications.

According to the study, the publications had a total of 1.3 billion views around the world, with the percentage breakdown being as follows: 41.5% from France (553,244,697 views), 35.7% from England and the USA collectively, 16% from the rest of Spain (212,815,465 views), 3.2% from Germany (42,315,047 views), and 2.1% from Catalonia (28,105,683 views), with 1.5% coming from elsewhere.

The study also emphasised the millions of views from Italy, Mexico and Portugal as well as the international variety of the views, with hits coming from countries such as Japan and Chile.

A “fantastic” city

The Mayor of Girona, Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó, explained that this type of study also allowed them to analyse in depth the kind of words which were used to refer to the city. Thus, it can be seen that the words that stood out as those most used were “fantastic”, “nearby city”, “open city” and “medieval”.

Economic success

Girona’s City Council also commissioned an economic impact study to find out what direct economic consequences the use of Girona as one of ‘Game of Thrones’ emblematic locations has had on the city. If the council had paid to achieve the same economic impact, it would have needed to invest around 3,670,244 euros according to figures calculated from the standard method of communication VPE (advertising value equivalent).

Recognising Girona in ‘Game of Thrones’

Puigdemont also defended the council’s decision to not collect taxes from the producers for shooting in the city and occupying much of the Old Town for fifteen days (the last day of shooting is expected to be Wednesday, with the dismantling of the set on Thursday).

The mayor recalled that in previous shootings they also did not claim anything, using the films ‘Soldados de Salamina’ and ‘Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’ as examples and explaining that the regulations allow such exceptions as long as Girona is represented and can be recognised in the films. “That is why we charge when Girona is used as an advertising spot because it can’t be recognised,” explained Puigdemont.