Fans of Harry Potter are led by Sam Thorne through the gothic alleys of Edinburgh, the city where the young wizard was first imagined more than thirty years ago by the controversial author J.K. Rowling.
The capital of Scotland draws admirers of the bespectacled schoolboy from all over the world, bolstering the economy of the United Kingdom and contributing to the billions of pounds in worldwide sales of Potter-related products.
Thorne refers to the evil dark lord of magic who killed Potter’s parents when he was a toddler by saying, “Here you will encounter the tomb of Voldemort,” to his tour party.
The tour, which has around 20 participants, winds through Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery, where some tombstones have names that are reminiscent of many characters. However, Rowling, who has received a lot of backlash for her opinions on transgender rights, has denied any connection.
Between 1997 and 2007, Rowling’s seven Potter books were published, inspiring eight successful blockbuster films and a multibillion dollar worldwide phenomenon.
Edinburgh’s views and scenery continue to enthral fans, who use them as inspiration for their fanciful characters and settings. It has only become more hectic and insane over time. More people are arriving, and they’re all requesting tours as well,” 33-year-old Thorne told AFP.
His 1.5-hour “Potter Trail” leads a number of dozen tourists around the charming alleyways of the city. It is suggested that each visitor donate £20 ($26) for the trip.
Thorne’s well-liked guided stroll comes to a close in front of two bustling Potter souvenir stores that are packed with muggles, or non-wizards, on Victoria Street, which is vibrant and photogenic.
Indian resident Briya Maru, 27, waits in queue outside one of the stores in the pouring rain to spend her hard-earned money on Potter mementos.
According to Maru, “It was symbolic for me to get them from here, the Harry Potter city,” and she was looking for “exclusive” antiques, she told AFP.
The ‘Enchanted Galaxy’ store, where customers can purchase a limited-edition figure sculpture for £650 and a “magic wand” for £40, is seeing strong business, according to manager Monica Alsina.
The store is doing really well. Harry Potter is becoming more and more well-known,” Alsina remarked.
There haven’t been any new novels or films released, but the “Potterverse” has grown recently to include a popular video game, a West End production, and the “Fantastic Beasts” movie franchise. A TV show is also in development.
According to Jenni Steele, a spokesperson for the travel company VisitScotland, “Harry Potter is a fantastic engine for tourism in Scotland.” Fans of the hugely successful franchise also swarm to the Cotswolds, York, and London and its environs, which are among the filming locations in England.
Another popular destination for devotees is “The Making of Harry Potter” film-studio park, which has drawn 19 million guests since it debuted in 2012.
The minimum price of a ticket for this London-based attraction is £53, and cumulative sales have surpassed $1 billion.
But in recent years, Rowling’s opinions—such as her conviction that biological sex is unchangeable—have eclipsed Pottermania. She disputes having transphobic views. Some have found her ideas tough in Edinburgh.
“It’s been a tough time to be a Harry Potter fan as a result of her comments, chiefly because one of the reasons why the wizarding world meant so much to so many people is because Harry was seen as being an outsider,” Thorne told the AFP news agency.
“For people who really felt that, Harry Potter was a form of escapism for them, a place where they could feel accepted — it does feel like a betrayal.” Still, the best-selling series brings in enormous sums of money.
Adults who experienced it as youngsters now display it to their offspring. The fan base is growing,” Alsina remarked.
