March 13, 2017
The success of "Black Panther" is getting translated into travel
searches with Wakanda Park in Menomonie getting into the wish list of many
travellers, according to a survey.
Set shortly after "Captain America:
Civil War", "Black Panther" shows T'Challa returning home to a fictional
isolated, technologically-advanced African nation of Wakanda to become king.
According to the survey, shared by online accommodation booking website
Hotels.com, searches for Wakanda Park in Menomonie have surged by 55 per cent
year-on-year in the last two months, read a statement.
After spotting the
spike in searches to Wakanda Park, Wisconsin, the travel experts at the platform
noticed similar peaks in demand for other Wakanda namesakes around the world.
Wauconda, Illinois (pronounced identically to Wakanda) was up more than 25
per cent and Makanda, also in Illinois, was up over 40 per cent year-on-year.
Further, Wakaya, in Fiji was up over 23.5 per cent and Wakkanai in Japan
enjoyed a more than 55 per cent year on year uplift.
The search data is
for January and February 2018 compared to January and February 2017.
Jessica Chuang, Hotels.com Director, Regional Marketing Greater China, SEA and
India said: "The film has touched the hearts and minds of millions of film fans
around the world.
"It's a brilliant watch and we regularly see that pop
culture inspires travel choices. We love that holidaymakers are seeking the
'Black Panther's homeland, from Wisconsin to Japan."
"Black Panther" is
among the first films by the house of Marvel Studios which predominantly has a
black cast and also shows a number of strong women of substance who work as the
protagonist T'Challa's allies.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures, "Black Panther" features Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B
Jordon, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Forest Whittaker and
Martin Freeman, among others. The film released in India on February 16.