The release of the highly anticipated film Jason Bourne, shot in Tenerife's capital city, Santa Cruz, reaffirms the island's appeal as a top filming location for box-office blockbusters. The largest of the Canary Islands was chosen by 88 local and international production companies for their shoots in 2015, which generated record revenues of €19 million (€11 million more than in 2014).
The production team of Jason Bourne, including Hollywood movie star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass, spent five weeks in Tenerife in September 2015 to shoot many of the action scenes of the fifth instalment of the popular series. The shoot of the just-released film generated €12 million revenue to the island alone and the production team made use of 600 extras and hired over 500 local companies, which greatly boosted the local economy.
In addition to the Bourne team, another 87 film crews, including the ones of Doctor Who and The Only Way is Essex, decided to film in Tenerife last year – most of them attracted by the island's tax incentives (including a reduced 7% VAT), diversity of striking landscapes and 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.
The Tenerife Film Commission, the brand of the Tenerife Tourism Corporation responsible for promoting the island as a filming location, provided help and support to the crew – as they did with other blockbuster films shot on the island in the last few years. Titles include “Clash of the Titans” (2010), “Wrath of the Titans” (2011), “Fast & Furious 6” (2012), “In the Heart of the Sea” (2015) and “Allied” (2016).
