Philippine tourism secretary Christina Frasco sees that Bollywood productions hold the key to drawing more Indian tourists to the country as she recently extended an invitation to India’s film executives to explore the Philippines as a premier filming destination.
On 6th August, Frasco met with film executives from Bollylands.com and the National Film Development Corporation of India during the recent state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jnr to India.
Frasco pitched the Philippines as an ideal backdrop for Bollywood films, showcasing the country's diverse filming locations as she outlined the various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for filmmakers considering shooting in the Southeast Asian country.
As she put it: “Film tourism is a priority product, India is the benchmark for film and film tourism, and we look to forging partnerships and collaborations to be able to pitch the Philippines as a viable film tourism destination for India.”
The Philippines as a backdrop for recent productions
In recent months, the Philippines has figured prominently in a number of programmes developed for television and streaming media platforms.
The culinary-centric show Somebody Feed Phil, for example, showcased the country’s rich gastronomic traditions and unique offerings.
Likewise, the country also previously welcomed a number of international productions, particularly the reality show Survivor, as well as films like Almost Paradise and The Bourne Legacy.
Ample support for cineastes
To support filmmakers, the Philippines offers competitive fiscal incentives through its Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), including up to seven years of Income Tax Holiday and duty-free importation of film equipment.
By partnering with local entities, foreign production companies can access these benefits.
Frasco added that the DOT provides, through its newly created Office of Film and Sports Tourism (OFST) and the regional offices, direct support with location scouting and logistical assistance, ensuring seamless access to diverse landscapes and historical sites.
The DOT-OFST is dedicated to supporting film productions highlighting stunning tourist destinations in the Philippines by helping filmmakers identify suitable locations for their projects to ensure that they capture the essence of our beautiful landscapes.
Additionally, it aims to integrate the Filipinization initiative of the Department by showcasing local culture, cuisine, festivals, and traditional crafts that distinctly represent the Philippines.
Films shot in the country don’t merely tell compelling stories, but also inspire viewers to travel and explore the destinations featured on screen.
As Frasco puts it: “Local filming is one that is growing at an immensely fast rate, and we would also be able to offer assistance in terms of liaising with these local film production companies. Beyond the fiscal incentives that the government is able to offer are the non-fiscal incentives, such as location scouting, the processing of permits, liaising with local government units, and extending logistic assistance.”
Language isn’t a problem
As one of the largest English-speaking nations, the Philippines facilitates smooth collaboration with international film crews.
Frasco explained: “One of the major advantages of the Philippines, apart from our natural hospitality, is the fact that we are an English-speaking population. Our faculty for English, sets us apart from other filming locations in ASEAN. And therefore, with this ease of communication, as well as a host of highly skilled production crew, there's a lot of opportunities for collaboration and filmmaking.”
She added that the improved connectivity between India and the Philippines as Air India offers direct flights from New Delhi to Manila, reducing travel time to just six hours.
Meanwhile, with visa-free entry for 150 countries, including India, the Philippines is more accessible than ever for filmmakers.
Frasco concluded by saying: “The good news is that our government has made it infinitely easier to come to the Philippines with direct flights from Air India, commencing on October 1, flying five times a week, and with our government actively seeking more connections from other cities to other islands in the Philippines, not just Manila. In addition to this, more good news is that Indians can now go to the Philippines visa-free, and that will be for a period of 14 days, and for certain other visa holders, that can extend to up to 30 days.”
