Merchants in Mexico City Hope to Recoup Bond Film Losses During Holy Week Agencia EFE
go to original April 2, 2015

An official sign announces the closing of a street on Tuesday in Mexico City's historic downtown district, where merchants complained about losses caused by street and sidewalk closings for the shooting of scenes for the new James Bond film "Spectre." (EFE)

Jewelry, clothing and shoe stores, as well as restaurants, in Mexico City’s historic downtown district are hoping that Holy Week spending by residents and visitors will help them recoup the losses caused by street closings for the shooting of the new James Bond film “Spectre.”

A survey found that the 6,627 businesses affected by street and sidewalk closings experienced average sales drops of 60 percent in the two weeks of location shooting by the film’s crew, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism president Gerardo Lopez Becerra told Efe.

Location shooting for “Spectre,” the 24th film in the James Bond series, cost merchants an estimated 376.9 million pesos (some $24.7 million).

The losses are the product of “bad public policy” on the part of Mexico City officials, “who agreed to provide locations for the production (of the film) without considering or respecting business, mercantile and even religious activities” in the area, Lopez said.

“We’re not against promoting the country and the capital with these kinds of films, it’s a good reflection on Mexicans. But they are not dealing with the effects it might have on businesses,” Lopez said.

Read the rest at Latin American Herald Tribune

Counterpoint: Filming of 007 Flick Boosted Business in Mexico City's, Officials Say (CTV News)

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