The Union Minister for Tourism, Shri Subodhkant Sahai at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Goa proposed a strategy of using the medium of cinema to enhance awareness, create interest among the people to promote the tourist destinations and tourism in the country.

He said the most recent example is the sudden desire among the Indian travellers to travel to Spain”, after seeing the film “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”. He said we can replicate this in India by focusing Film Tourism among International film directors to promote India as a preferred choice of destination for filming and requested the participants’ guidance in order to achieve this objective.

During the meeting, the challenges and problems facing by the filmmakers were discussed and suggestion on following issues were made: • Single Window clearance • visa procedures • Speedy Custom clearance for import of filming equipment•Ensuring easy accessibility to locations • Offer financial incentives to film Film Makers to support film production • Dedicated website highlighting several film locations/ effective use of social media.

Ministry of Tourism took following decisions in response to the above suggestion to promote film tourism.

a) Creation of a body at national level, comprising members from NFDC, MoT and the stakeholders to look into various issues and marketing activities.

b) Studying and replicating the success stories of Goa, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu for granting permission for shooting film. The Commission Committee should be chaired by preferably C.M.

c) Visa issue to be taken up in the inter-ministerial committee chaired by PS to Prime Minister.

d) Invitations/ hospitality will be extended by MOT to film Directors/Producers for Site visits for development of destination in India.

e) MOT will consider payment of Facilitation Fees for film shooting and work out an acceptable model.

f) Location Management services will be worked out by MOT in consultation with trade and a detailed information would be loaded on MOT website about possible destination for shooting.

g) The possibility of tax reimbursement on expenditure on film shooting as is prevalent in other countries would be examined in MOT.

h) In some countries, the Mayor reimburses certain percentage of film charges in case the film promotes the destination MoT would examine the possibility of creating similar fund for promotion of destination/city.

I) The MoT, NFDC and film directors can meet regularly to monitor/guide the progress made in this direction.