Filming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and La Reina del Sur 3 (Spanish for The Queen of the South) series in the City of Cusco,
, and other locations generated economic income over goods and services worth nearly S/12 million (about US$3 million), Cusco's Chamber of Commerce and Provincial Municipality have reported.
Cusco and the main development factor: tourism —which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic— reverse their situation and are projected to become what they previously used to be —during the next two years— as authorities and the business sector project.
Shooting the Transformers movie in this area —which took place last September and October— meant the arrival of around 1,000 people who are part of the filming process —including production personnel,
actors, and logistics team, who remained in the Andean city for a period of 20 days— the time that filming lasted in locations such as
Machu Picchu,
Sacsayhuaman, and the
City of Cusco.
According to Economic Development and Municipal Services Manager Juan Carlos Galdos, the number of people who arrived from overseas would be equivalent to the arrival of 20,000 tourists to the Imperial City. This estimate is based on the demand generated by one person per day (a minimum of US$150).
According to information from the Cusco Chamber of Commerce, the arrival of the entire staff —800 people for Transformers and 200 for La Reina del Sur— will lead to income worth around US$ 12 million (about US$3 million).
Hotel chains and tour operators were not only directly benefited from this activity, as the filming plan reactivated catering and transportation services, since 100 vehicle units would have been hired for this purpose.
Added to this is the creation of jobs with the hiring of nearly 700 Cusco residents who collaborated with the production by playing roles as extras —a job that entailed financial retribution.
The typical costume industry and the Cusco artisans, who were in charge of the elaboration of gigantic allegories used in some celebratory scenes, were also invigorated.
Likewise, security companies —with the hiring of locals— were able to guard the areas chosen as filming points.
In this long list of productive chains reactivated —as well as directly and indirectly benefited— there are also businesses settled in locations that were part of the filming process, which were compensated for by the film production company.
Finally, the manager said that —although the Municipality of Cusco received about S/150,000 (about US$37,500) for filming rights and use of spaces— there is no point of comparison with the benefits that the promotion of Peru as a cinematographic destination generates and will generate in the future.
"Making an analogy, the immense effort made by PromPeru paying huge amounts to promote Peru's image, this film will help us to position that image and help us to reactivate tourism. The impact is so great that the tourist activity is projected to recover 100% by 2023," he concluded.