Shooting of Bond film costs Mexico City businesses nearly $25 mn

The shooting of “Spectre,” the latest film in the James Bond series, in downtown Mexico City will cost merchants about 376.9 million pesos (some $24.7 million), the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism said.

The film “could represent an important promotional opportunity for our city and folklore, with future benefits expected,” the business group said in a statement.

“Regrettably, the street and sidewalk closings have directly and indirectly affected more than 6,627 businesses located in the quadrant formed by Belisario Dominguez and Republica de Uruguay streets, as well as the Eje Lazaro Cardenas and Correo Mayor,” the business group said.

The closings cost businesses money “during the nearly two weeks that the government carried out the closing of streets and blocking of sidewalks, which led to a drop in sales due to few shoppers and tourits,” the business group said.

Sales fell by an average of 60 percent at the businesses over the two weeks of street closings, the business group said.

Mexico City is one of the locations for “Spectre,” which features the country’s traditional Day of the Dead celebration and whose cast includes Stephanie Sigman, the first Mexican Bond girl.

Mexico is only featured during the first 10 minutes of the film, which also has scenes shot in London and Rome.

Mexico City’s historic downtown district could welcome more than 500,000 visitors during Holy Week, the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism said.

The street closings started on March 19 and will end on Wednesday.

“Spectre” stars Daniel Craig, who is appearing in his fourth Bond film, and features Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux and Sigman as the latest Bond girls.

In the the film, Agent 007 will battle the Special Executive for CounterIntelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, or SPECTRE, and arch villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz plays Blofeld, whose character first appears in Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” and has been featured in several Bond films.

Craig also starred as 007 in “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Skyfall.”