Film Tourism Takes Centre Stage at PHDCCI’s 8th Global Conclave, Driving India’s Destination Branding Vision

Film tourism has firmly moved to the centre of India’s destination branding strategy, with policymakers and industry leaders converging at the 8th Global Film Tourism Conclave organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on 13 February 2026 in Mumbai. Themed ‘Cinema Driving Tourism’, the conclave set a clear agenda: convert cinematic storytelling into measurable tourism and economic growth.

In a special video message, Shri Suresh Gopi, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, described India as “a civilization of stories,” noting that destinations seen on screen transform into aspirations and lived dreams for audiences. From Varanasi’s spiritual aura to Rajasthan’s forts and Kerala’s backwaters, he said every region holds cinematic depth waiting to be showcased globally. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to progressive, film-friendly policies, adding that when the camera rolls, opportunity must flow to the grassroots.

Delivering the Chief Guest address, Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, stressed that film tourism must be strategically designed. Citing global research indicating nearly 80 million travellers are influenced annually by cinema and media, he called it one of the most cost-efficient destination marketing tools. He underlined the need for model guidelines, measurable incentives linked to screen time, PPP frameworks and data-driven evaluation to transform cinema into a sustained economic engine.

As Guest of Honour, Mr. Jayesh Ranjan highlighted Telangana’s integrated production ecosystem, noting that Hyderabad offers world-class studios and post-production facilities. He pointed to the ‘Film in Telangana’ portal as a streamlined, single-window mechanism simplifying approvals for filmmakers.

Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, described cinema as India’s most underleveraged tourism campaign, calling for a coordinated national framework. Industry voices including Mr. Ravi Kottarakara of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Uday Singh of the Motion Picture Association (India) emphasized efficiency, scale and incentives as critical growth pillars.

Supported by Telangana Tourism and Meghalaya Tourism, and backed by leading hospitality and travel associations, the conclave reinforced that film tourism is no longer peripheral—it is a strategic lever to amplify India’s soft power, livelihoods and global tourism competitiveness.