Written by Tom Deehan on Mar 14, 2016. Posted in General Interest

Game of Thrones app launched to highlight filming locations

A Game of Thrones app has been released on the Google Play store to highlight the filming locations used for the show, with an iOS release expected soon. This launch comes a few days after it was announced that the Scottish capital of Edinburgh is on its way to overtaking Dublin for having the second busiest hotel industry in Western Europe, as a result of film tourism.

The Game of Thrones locations app is a great innovation which will undoubtedly enhance the overall visitor experience.

HBO’s hugely successful Game of Thrones series has become a staple of Irish film tourism, with scenes having been filmed on location at Downhill Beach, Ballintoy Harbour and the Cushendun Caves.

The app has been developed by The Design Zoo in conjunction with Northern Ireland Screen and Tourism Northern Ireland, and will include 21 unique locations complete with 360 degree panoramic photographs.

The Chief Executive of Nothern Ireland Screen, Richard Williams explained: “we are delighted with how the app has turned out and would like to thank HBO for their tremendous support during development. Game of Thrones has now become a huge part of Northern Ireland culture and we know the appetite for information about the show is vast around the world. We hope that the app will allow visitors and fans of Game of Thrones to see the massive part the Northern Ireland landscape plays in the series.”

John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism NI adds: “the Game of Thrones locations app is a great innovation which will undoubtedly enhance the overall visitor experience. It will enable visitors to make the link between the Game of Thrones fantasy and the spectacular real-life setting here in Northern Ireland. We look forward to working in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen on further development of the app.”

Game of Thrones has filmed in the UK since its 2011 release as a result of the UK High-end TV Tax Relief. This programme offers a 25% tax rebate to television productions that incur a minimum expenditure of GBP1 million per episode, luring other series including And Then There Were None and Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands.