The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up a film tourism cell in Hyderabad to retain domestic film makers and attract international film makers to the state, tourism and information minister J Geeta Reddy said.
A large number of films are being produced in Tollywood and a lot of film makers go to the foreign locales. As film making generates great employment for the locals, we have discussed with producers, actors, directors, on their requirements and problems in getting clearances for their shooting, she added.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the inaugural function of ‘Hyderabad Convention Bureau (HCB)’, Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary, state tourism department said the film cell would function as a facilitator in choosing locales and assist in providing clearances specially to Telugu, Tamil and Karnataka film industry. It would be launched at the International Film Festival in Goa during November this year.
Around five film studios, including Ramoji Film Studio, and agencies from the city specialising in post production, dubbing, editing, will be the stakeholders in the cell.
He said the medical tourism initiative was in its initial stage and the feasibility study was being done by the Ernst & Young.
HCB, set up by the state tourism department in partnership with GMR Hyderabad International Airport and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), is aimed at making Hyderabad an international convention destination for MICE (meeting, incentives, conferences, events) tourism.
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The bureau would provide end-to-end solutions to business visitors by arranging local transport, and hotel booking or flights along with hospitality players, airline companies and travel service providers.
The bureau with Rs 1.15 crore investment will generate revenues by charging for the events and its services. “We are working on the business plan. There will be an initial cost which we have invested and eventually it will earn its own revenue and recurring cost,” she said.
Convention centre at Vizag
The government is also planning to set up an international convention centre on 5-10 acre in public-private-partnership at Visakhapatnam.
“No time frame has been set. We are receiving tenders from private parties and are in the process of identifying land,” Ranjan said.