Written by new-contact on Jul 25, 2012. Posted in On Location

Breaking Bad TV show boosts film tourism shooting on location in New Mexico

Cable TV drama Breaking Bad is boosting film tourism in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fans of the show are driving a rise in visitor numbers, but locals have mixed feelings about the show that focuses on a chemistry teacher turning to drug-dealing to provide for his family.

Now starting its fifth and final series in the US, Breaking Bad is mainly a character study, with the relentless New Mexico sun and occasional desert locations around Albuquerque adding atmosphere to the drama. Locals are happy for the attention, but are keen to distance the series’ story from reality.

Dale Lockett is Head of the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau, and spoke to USA Today: “When Breaking Bad began airing five seasons ago, we were less than thrilled by the subject matter, which is based on a fictional character and story.

“People are travelling to our city to see the locations featured in the show and then spending time at our attractions, restaurants and hotels. This unexpected new visitor market is definitely a pleasant surprise, and we will soon be marketing it more aggressively.”

People are travelling to our city to see the locations featured in the show and then spending time at our attractions, restaurants and hotels.

Dale Lockett, Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

Film tourism can have a big economic impact, with North Carolina being another US state looking to showcase locations used in The Hunger Games. In Europe the Swedish authorities have been looking into ways to take advantage of the profile boost the country’s had from The Millennium Trilogy, as well as David Fincher’s remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

(Stills photos: Frank Ockenfels/AMC)