CINEMATOURISM

Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. International tourism receipts grew to US$944 billion (Euros 642 billion) in 2008, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 1.8%. Cinema TourismÓ has been derived from the much-debated concept of Heritage Tourism. The stories in the Legends of Freedom Series are all based in Pretoria where the cases were trialed and the accused were either executed or sentenced to life imprisonment. Cinema TourismÓ gives content toward the City’s cultural heritage and ultimately toward growth in tourism. It is through digital archiving that the rich history can be retold. The need to preserve Heritage through cinematography has been a worldwide cry to a point that UNESCO launched a programme, “Information for All”, which provides a platform for discussions and action on information policies and the safeguarding of recorded knowledge. Another effort is through a second programme called “Memory of the World”, which aims to ensure the preservation and universal accessibilityzof the world’s documentary heritage. The RIVONIA TRIAL has been identified by UNESCO as a trial whose archives MUST be preserved.

 The practice of using film/cinema to promote language or tourism in a specific genre is not a new concept; however, PAMBILI has coined the concept and revisioned it for the purpose of making film the platform for promoting tourism. Many film commissions aim to make their locations innovative world-class hubs for the film and television industry. This approach is fast becoming mundane as any place with good production design can be made into a location that suits the filmmaker’s needs. Cinema TourismÓ encourages the creators of the project to write or produce content that speaks to the cultural heritage of the location, thus preserving its memory and promoting tourism. In the process, data is collected and a new archive is created and commercialized for the specific purpose of the filmmaker’s needs and thus the film commission promotes its locations and the tourist sector benefits from the mass media distribution of the story.

 Under the umbrella concept, the following stories have been identified as initial content:

 ·      Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu

·      Rivonia Trial

·      Silverton Siege

·      1652: The Arrival