Encouraged by huge tourist inflow in ladakh region post the Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor-starrer ‘3 idiots’ and a few others, the Centre is banking on the film industry to popularise untapped tourist destinations among locals and foreigners in the country.
The Union Tourism Ministry has asked the States to send a list of ‘unseen’ and ‘untouched’ tourist spots that can be promoted through films. The aim is to enhance the image of India in the world through soft powers like Indian films and tourist destinations, said an official from the Tourism Ministry.
He said that the Ministry is also in talks with its Information and Broadcasting counterpart in this regard and will soon invite representatives from the film industries from the States to encourage them to promote tourism through their movies.
The Government has already set up a single window clearance system for filmmakers across the world. “A Film Facilitation Office is being operated by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), wherein interested film makers can approach without hassle instead of making rounds of bureaucracy and multiple stops for getting clearance for a film’s shoot,” the official said.
The move of making NFDC a ‘single-window clearance’ system was formally announced at the Film Bazaar in Panaji last year. The move is aimed at removing all obstacles and hassles while obtaining permission for filming and attracting more international filmmakers, thus taking a step towards making India a global filming destination, said the official.
Currently, a Single Window Clearance system is functional in several States and Union Territories including Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pardesh and Rajasthan. Some of the States on their own are already taking initiatives to promote their scenic tourists hotspots through movies. For instance, the Kerala Government has invited film industries across India under its “Visit Kerala” campaign to shoot in the State so that it can tap maximum potential out of film tourism by using the Indian film industry.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was quoted to have said that tourism in India is about creating a fantastic, unforgettable experience. The need is to ‘package’ the country’s offerings in the right direction to boost tourism sector.
“Films and advertisements can play a key role in popularising India. To make filming in India easy, the ministry has set up the Film Facilitation Office as a single window for all clearances and approvals,” he had said.
The official from the Tourism Ministry added, “we want more and more films to be shot at various Indian locations. We have the potential in our country, and many locations can easily be compared with Switzerland.”