Film Tourism

Film tourism is a growing phenomenon worldwide, motivated by both the growth of the entertainment industry and the increase in Domestic and international travel.

TRAVEL OF INDIA film tourism explores the effects that film and TV-productions have on the travel decisions made when potential tourists plan their upcoming holiday or visit to a destination.

Films, documentaries, TV-productions and commercials inspire people to experience the locations seen in the content screened, to explore new destinations. Film tourism is an excellent vehicle for destination marketing and also creates opportunities for product and community entrepreneur development such as location tours or film heritage museums to name but a few.

One of the best examples of film induced tourism relates to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, filmed in New Zealand. Research studies revealed that at least 72% of the current and potential international tourists visiting New Zealand had seen at least one of the trilogy films. Although this is no concrete evidence that their destination choice was as a result of the films, it was definitely a motivating component. In a demonstration to of the power of film to raise the profile of New Zealand and reveal the influence a film has in destination choices for tourists, more than two-thirds of the tourists questioned agreed that they would visit the country as a result of the movie.

Film Tourism in India

India is the largest film producer in the world, annually producing more than 1800 films. Unsurprisingly, efforts to exploit film tourism have emerged at a national, state and business level. This chapter enhances the understanding of India's film tourism and efforts to establish a film tourism destination. These efforts included greater coordination between national and state governments to attract and facilitate film production. Added is a tourism strategy emphasis, in part, on film tourism, coupled with the added use of film in tourism promotions.

Film tourism is an evident phenomenon around the country, though mostly at film studio locations. Other accounts provide limited support for an effect on tourist demand and lack of film-specific tourist attractions. However, the vast Indian film presence indicates subtle roles in tourism, establishing or reinforcing perceptions and stirring motivations to visit the range of pre-established attractions across the country. Future research on the subtle role of film on India's tourists and the filmic representations of the people is recommended. Overall, film tourism in India has much emerging potential.

Bollywood is a world renowned film producing centre in the world after Hollywood. There are more than 800 films produced in different languages in India. Bollywood produces the most popular Hindi films. The story of this film industry has spanned over nine decades. From its early silent movies to its present state of the art movies, it has produced thousands of documented short films and 27,000 feature films. It is the largest film producer in the world.

Since most people may be unable to visit Bollywood in Mumbai, a Film City was Hyderabad The Ramoji Film City in India is located in Hyderabad. Spread over 1666 acres, it is the largest integrated film city in Telangana and has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest studio complex in the world Also developed in Noida (a satellite township in Delhi) in 1987. It is spread over 100 acres (0.40 square kilometres). This studio features over 25 acres of indoor soundstages. The Film city is located on the Yamuna river banks. It also has a Massoori village on the Ghaziabad-Hapur stretch. It also includes swimming pools, golf clubs, gardens, and a toll road, the native village of the five Pandavas, palaces, a mud village, and swimming pools. There are mosques and churches for religious backdrops. All these offer a wide choice of outdoor shooting requirements.

The Film City has hosted numerous shootings for various feature films. It has hosted Bollywood cinema as well as regional films in Tamil, Telugu , Kannada , Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, Kashmiri, Rajasthani, and other Indian languages. Numerous views, news, and current affairs programs have been filmed here. This has attracted politicians, celebrities, and bureaucrats making it a VIP place. Its success story has drawn filmmakers and foreign delegations from outside India. They have explored the possibilities of culture exchange programs and joint ventures.

In 1993, an academy was established and is the first ISO-9001 certified film school in India. It is also the first Indian film school to be approved as a City & Guilds of London Institute training centre. It has received more than 100 local, national and international awards. There are students from over 70 countries enrolled here. It has also become popular for its short terms courses.

Clients can visit the studio and see the complex from Monday to Saturday at 1130 hours or in the afternoon at 1530 hours. They can attend a talk on Film in India and can watch a filming if it is going on that day.