Scottish tourism is set to receive a giant boost this week with the launch of Disney's new film The BFG.
VisitScotland believes Scotland's starring role in the Steven Spielberg blockbuster, which comes to UK cinemas on Friday, will inspire more visitors to explore the country's landscapes.
Skye and Orkney both feature in the big-screen version of Roald Dahl's classic tale as part of the homeland of the Big Friendly Giant, played by Mark Rylance.
The digitally enhanced shots of Skye include the Quiraing, the Old Man of Storr, the Cuillins, the Faerie Glen and the Shiant Islands, while an aerial unit filmed at the Old Man of Hoy on Orkney.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, claimed numerous movies filmed in Scotland have helped to boost the country's tourism over the years.
He said: "Scotland’s islands play a vital role in this country’s tourism industry, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is fantastic to see The BFG join a long list of memorable movies to feature our incredible offshore locations, which have been seen in everything from science-fiction classics to fantasy blockbusters.
"With 40 per cent of visitors to the UK inspired to come here after seeing a location on film or on television, the appearance of Skye and Orkney in Steven Spielberg’s latest movie can only be great news, not only for the islands themselves, but for Scottish tourism as a whole."
Skye has appeared in numerous movies in recent years, including Macbeth, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman and fantasy film Stardust.
The island’s landscapes have also seen Skye feature in cult science-fiction classic Flash Gordon, as well as Highlander and The Land That Time Forgot.
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: “Our island communities serve as a unique backdrop for TV and film productions, with dramatic landscapes and seascapes.
"These movies shine a spotlight on some of Scotland’s greatest assets, icons and hidden gems, which helps attract tourists to our island and rural communities.
"We know that investment in screen, through initiatives such as Creative Scotland’s Production Growth Fund, can bring more jobs, further growth and a provide an economic boost for destinations that feature on screen."
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