The nationwide release of the film North by Northwest in June, which was filmed in Hotan's Kunlun Mountains and desert poplar forests, sparked a boom in self-driving tourism. With local authorities offering free admission with movie tickets and fuel subsidies for RV convoy, the region attracted 5.5 million visitors from June to July, 80% of whom traveled by car. This generated $485 million in tourism revenue, turning cinematic exposure into economic growth and boosting Hotan's travel profile.