`Life of Pi` to receive tourism awards

New Delhi: Hollywood adventure film `Life of Pi` is all set to receive two National Tourism Awards from the Government for promoting India as a tourism destination, especially Puducherry and Munnar in Kerala.

Director Ang Lee and Yann Martel, writer of the book on which the film is based, would receive the awards, Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi said. The film tells the story of an Indian boy from Pondicherry, who survives a shipwreck and remains stranded for 227 days on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger. Chiranjeevi expressed hope that "this will go a long way in encouraging more and more film producers from abroad to shoot their films in India." Every year, the Tourism Ministry recognises various stakeholders, including filmmakers and writers, for their contribution in promoting Indian tourism by conferring these awards. The ministry has identified `Film Tourism` as a niche tourism product and has requested state governments and Union Territory administrations to recognise the potential of film tourism and constitute special bodies to facilitate filming in their respective areas. In February, the ministry signed an MoU with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as a major initiative to promote the `Incredible India` campaign and cinemas of India as a sub brand of `Incredible India` at various international film festivals and markets abroad. The MoU is expected to enhance the reach of `Incredible India` through the medium of cinema, develop a synergy between tourism and film industry and provide a platform for enabling partnerships between the Indian and global film industry. PTI