First, Georgia used tax credits to lure big budget films and television series away from Florida — even stories about the Sunshine State.
Now, Georgia film and tourism officials are leveraging this thriving production industry to snare Floridians on vacation.
Those working with film and tourism in Florida say there’s little they can do about it because the state has quit offering incentives of its own.
“This is like if Florida State and the Florida Gators decided to quit playing tackle football for flag football,” said Tony Armer, St. Petersburg-Clearwater film commissioner. “We’re flag football and Georgia is competing for a national title.”
Officials from the Georgia Film Office and the Department of Economic Development were in Tampa this week promoting their state as a place to see the settings for your favorite tales from the screen.
They met with travel writers, bloggers and others in communication before heading to Jacksonville on a tour to promote so-called film-induced tourism.
See the rest of this at the Tampa Bay Times.
