NEW BEDFORD Many things define New Bedford’s history. Moviemaking may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it has been thriving here for nearly 100 years. Hollywood has made the SouthCoast a prime location since 1922. Seeing notable landmarks or familiar scenery on the big screen excites locals, but film companies also can boost tourism and local businesses.
“We hope to have an influx of visitors to the city that are movie buffs that want to visit the place that they saw in one of the films,” said former Director of Tourism, in New Bedford, Dagny Ashley.
“Movies attract tourists,” added Ashley, who recently left the position to head the tourism office in Quincy. “It provides a destination image and it also increases branding and helps with marketing a destination. It gives an overall economic impact for all the cities and towns and the state as a whole.”