Foreign tourism boards offer sops to attract Indian filmmakers

30% cash rebate for filming in Netherlands; 25% tax rebate on production costs in Portugal

Foreign tourism boards and film commissions are stepping up their efforts to woo Indian production houses to film in their countries by offering tax incentives and free hotel stays.

Yash Raj Films made Swiss locales famous through its movies, and Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara brought Spain closer to the Indian audience — boosting arrivals of Indian tourists to the country.

Other countries do not want to be left behind. Delegates from tourism boards and film commissions recently converged in Mumbai for the two-day India International Film Tourism Conclave. Participants came from Portugal, Netherlands, Romania and European island nation Malta, along