THE Berwickshire coast could be set for a massive tourism boost from the new Hollywood blockbuster Avengers movie and the Outlaw King.

With the third instalment of the Avengers having filmed at St Abbs in the summer and the Outlaw King – about Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Scottish Independence – on location just across the Border in Berwick-upon-Tweed last week, places such as nearby Eyemouth are in prime position to take advantage of an influx of star-struck tourists.

Avengers: Infinity War is due out next year and is expected to be as popular as the first two films in the series which are among the biggest draws ever seen at the worldwide box office.

Rosie Ellison, of Film Edinburgh, said: “The first one is the fifth-most-popular film ever and the second is the seventh most popular. If this one has the same sort of box office appeal, the sheer number of people who are going to see the Berwickshire coast is going to be phenomenal.

“People are going to want to find out where it was filmed and see it for themselves.

“Several companies in Scotland do film tours, so that will help people find their way there. Berwickshire businesses are in an ideal position to tap into that market.”

The dramatic effect on tourist numbers of movies and TV series filmed in Scotland can already be seen from Outlander. Locations such as Doune Castle have had a 90 per cent increase in visitors since it was first screened.

Ellison said: “Tourist traffic has also increased to all the other locations associated with the series and when the Avengers and the Outlaw King come out we would expect to see visitors responding to them.

“These are long-term trends, too – it is something that gains over time. Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is still dining out on the Harry Potter connection. Numbers are through the roof, yet it was filmed many years ago. Certainly, we would expect the new films to have a positive effect on tourist numbers as has happened in the wake of other films in other parts of Scotland.”

Ellison pointed out that the Outlaw King – an American-Scottish historical action drama which will be distributed on Netflix – and the Avengers will appeal to different audiences, which again could work in favour of places such as Eyemouth.

“If you get families coming from the US, for example, the kids will want to see where Avengers was filmed while the adults will want to see where the Outlaw King was filmed. Accommodation providers in Eyemouth could tap into that market by letting people know how close they are to both locations. There is lots of potential – for example there is now Outlander jewellery and Outlander-themed activities, and some restaurants that are not even near the filming locations offer Outlander menus.

“You could have a tartan made to suit the Outlaw King or even the Avengers – why not an Iron Man Tartan made in the Borders?

“Nobody needs to rush it as these films will have long, long legs. People are still going to Roslyn because of The Da Vinci Code which was filmed some years ago.”

John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said that while the films were a great opportunity for the area, which is often bypassed by visitors on their way to Edinburgh or the Highlands, more could be done to make the most of it.

“We’re missing an opportunity to promote the Borderlands as a tourist destination because VisitScotland and VisitEngland do not work together as well as they should,” he said. “That is why I was concerned with the recent announcement from VisitScotland that it will be closing its visitor centre in Kelso, the closest one to Berwickshire.

“There may be an opportunity to redesign our tourist information provision and I hope that VisitScotland will look closely at how to maximise the opportunities the likes of the Avengers and Outlaw King present for Berwickshire.”