Does the locales pictured in the movies help boost tourism?

[Editor]

I am sure that it really excites each one of us to watch a travel destination in a movie or a television show, which speaks volumes about the culture of that place. Be it India or abroad, you might have come across a movie or a documentary with a tourist destination, which either you have been to or would like to visit in future. Part of the thrill of watching a movie is these wonderful scenic spots.

I am sure that after watching a movie like The Lord of the Rings, one would sure like to visit New Zealand. Similarly, I am also reminded of the old classic, The Sound of Music, which would have inspired many to visit Austria. Our very own Bollywood can also boast of a host of movies where the songs and dance sequences are shot at famous national and international locales. This trend of shooting on foreign locales is increasing day by day. Though I am not much of a movie buff myself, but some Indian flicks do feature some exotic locales, which leave a lasting impression on one's mind. I remember watching the Shah Rukh Khan starer 'Chalte Chalte' a couple of years back, which did leave an astonishing impression of Greece on my mind.

Similarly the popular documentaries on the telly also seem to promote the tourism of that particular place. Serials like 'Yatra' on Star Plus and Discovery's 'Travel and Living' channel pay tribute to a host of nice places and travel destinations. I feel that these exotic locales featured in these programmes and movies do boost the tourism of that place.

But, there are always two sides of a coin. A lot also depends on the tourism policy of the country and how they would like to project the image of their country. It was indeed incredible to read an article in a magazine about our neighboring country Bhutan, which stated that this Land of Thunder Dragon takes some really strong steps to guard the country's heritage. They have a policy of keeping out the backpackers and focus only on $200-a-day tourists. The rationale behind this policy is that they want to regulate and reduce the environmental stress of their country, which is endowed with marvelous scenic beauty. This type of policy is not prevalent in India, where people from every nook and corner are welcome to witness our cultural heritage even if it amounts to disturbing the ecological balance of that area.

Whatever is the policy of the country about the tourism per se, portraying a locale in a positive light in a movie or a documentary does lift the tourism prospects of that region as it piques the curiosity of an inquisitive person to visit that place. Do you have the same viewpoint as mine or you would like to differ...

[usathyan]

Maybe...i am planning on visiting DevPrayag in June...featured in that new desi movie - Ksna....