Srinagar: Film tourism has emerged as a powerful medium to promote the tourism industry and the government is chalking out a comprehensive strategy for its growth in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday.
He said tourism helps in creating employment opportunities in hospitality and gastronomy.
“We are chalking out a comprehensive strategy for tourism growth. Film tourism has emerged as a powerful medium to promote tourism, to promote a destination,” Reddy, the Minister for Culture and Tourism, said.
He was addressing the delegates from the G20 countries at the side event ‘Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation’ at SKICC here. The event is a part of the three-day third Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G20 countries being held here.
The minister said Srinagar is India’s one of the most beautiful cities.
“I would like to highlight the beauty and cultural heritage of the host destination. Srinagar is India’s one of the oldest cities,” he added.
Reddy said India offers every kind of location to filmmakers to shoot films.
“From sun-kissed beaches to mountains,” he added.
“As we embark on an exciting journey, let us remember that it is not only about showing the beauty of the destination but to also preserve its culture,” Reddy said.
“Our agenda is to exchange best practices and technologies and create employment,” he said.
Meanwhile, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Monday that Kashmir is the finest destination for film shooting.
He said the Kashmir Valley has been attracting filmmakers due to its unique nature, which has something for everyone.
“Kashmir is not just a destination but a unique experience. Kashmir is an amazing destination because of Alpine forests, streams etc. There is no better destination than Kashmir as it has something to offer to everyone. It has everything,” Kant said.
He was addressing the delegates from the G20 countries at the side event ‘Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation’. The event is a part of the third Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G20 countries being held in the city.
“We believe in peace and prosperity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes tourism has a multiplier effect and it is a job creator. This destination is unique because no Bollywood movie was complete without a shoot in Kashmir. No romance in India was complete without Kashmir,” he said.
He added that Kashmir is the finest destination to shoot movies, especially of the romance genre.
“We will help you to bring more and more romance and glamour to your films,” Kant said addressing the event.
Referring to famous movies which were shot in Kashmir, Kant said “Bobby” — the 1973 Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia starrer — which was shot in a cottage in Gulmarg, became a household word in India.
“Kashmir Ki Kali”, “Jab Jab Phool Khilay” were also shot and went on to become hits, he added.
“This has led to 370 films taking permission to shoot in Kashmir,” the India’s G20 Sherpa said.
He said while many filmmakers went to Switzerland and elsewhere for shooting, many international movies were shot in India.
“It has been a two way process…Natu Natu (the Oscar-winning song from the movie “RRR”) was shot in the presidential palace of Ukraine. So, it is a two way process,” Kant said.
About 60 foreign delegates arrived here on Monday for the tourism working group meeting of the G20 countries, officials said.
This is the first international meeting being held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh – in August 2019.
