Expenses on shooting films to be reimbursed?

Panajim, Nov 26 (IBNS) In a bid to promote tourism in India, Union Minister for Tourism has chalked out re-payment plan for the Indian and International filmmakers shooting their films here.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting at Film Bazaar organized by the National Films Division Corporation.

Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay, who chaired the meeting, announced that the possibility of tax reimbursement will boost country's tourism promotion.

Sahay assured the Ministry would work out modalities to finance the states to reimburse the tax paid by filmmakers shooting in Indian locations.

"We will extend the incentives to Indian and Foreign filmmakers," he said in the presence of Indian filmmakers Farah Khan, Zoya Akhtar, Vishal Bharadwaj, Sanjay Suri among others who attended the meeting.

The meeting also consented that Union Ministry will introduce an association to facilitate single window clearance for shooting films in India.

The Cell, which will be in the Chief Minister's office in all the States, will get financial upport from the Union Tourism Ministry.

"The Cell will have representatives of NFDC, Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Union Tourism Ministry, stakeholders and State government," Sahay added.

The Centre has also decided to replicate Goa and Pondicherry's system of single window for film shootings, in other states as well.

In Goa, the Entertainment Society of Goa, established by Goa government in 2004 as a nodal agency in the organization of IFFI and to coordinate film shootings in the State, promotes 1000 film shooting days including shooting of foreign films.

(Reporting by John Edwards)