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'Game of Thrones' Spurs Croat Tourism, Film Industry

Game of Thrones tourists flocking to Croatia might help revive country's dormant film industry.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, Croatia, on the Adriatic Sea is the setting for King's Landing in "Game of Thrones."Cristina Arias / Getty Images

The recently Emmy-nominated "Game of Thrones" TV series has spurred tourists' interest in visiting Croatia, where much of the epic TV fantasy is set. But it could also help re-establish Croatia's reputation from Yugoslav days as a location for film making. That took a beating during the carnage 90's, as the country's civil war meant the only film crews visiting were there to capture the violence. "Game of Thrones" grew its audience 24 percent last season, delivering viewer tallies on a par with the final episodes of hit series "The Sopranos." Local business leader Ivica Mudrinic was sanguine about Croatia's prospects of building on the attention. "Once something is successful, it usually draws in other similar projects. Time will tell."

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