Guwahati: On this Diwali festival, Assam Tourism has announced bonanza for filmmakers willing to shoot films in Assam and entrepreneurs willing to set up tourism ventures in the state.
To make Assam a destination for shooting films, Assam government has announced lavish incentives under the new Assam Tourism Police, 2017 for experienced filmmakers who make films in English, Hindi and any other foreign language.
The new tourism policy which has been approved by Assam Cabinet and will become operational from January 1, 2018 till December 31, 2022, was unveiled by Assam Tourism Minister, Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma on this Diwali day here.
“Making films in Hindi, English and other foreign languages in Assam locations especially on stories based in Assam will be a huge boon to the tourism sector in the state. Hence the new tourism policy has made provision for generous incentives for such films,” the minister said.
The new policy also offers bounty for entrepreneurs wiling to set up hotels, resorts, restaurants, roadside dhabas, boats etc., in the state as such ventures will create employment avenues besides promoting tourism.
“A filmmaker must have already made at least five films to become eligible to get incentives under new Assam Tourism Policy for making films in Assam in Hindi, English or other foreign languages. For such films, the state government will reimburse 25 % of the total cost incurred by the film unit in Assam. There will be 10 % additional incentives if the script of film is based on Assam and there will be another 10 % incentive if more than 50 % of the shooting of such a film is carried out in Assam. That leaves a scope for such a film to get maximum 45 % incentives on the cost incurred in Assam,” Dr Sarma informed.
The policy which will be made operation coinciding the Global Investment Summit to be hosted by Assam in February 2018, has announced largess for setting up tourist units/accommodation/ restaurants/dhabas etc., in the state.
Assam government will reimburse 50 % of the GST under the new tourism policy to such tourist units set up with minimum investment of Rs one crore. There will be 30 % (capital investment subsidy) reimbursement of total cost of construction of such units with a cap of Rs one crore.
The state government will reimburse 25 % of the cost of electrification of such tourist units with a cap of Rs 10 lakh per unit. If the entrepreneur has to make build an approach road to such a tourist facility, the government will provide 75 % of the total cost of such approach road.
Several award for excellence too have been instituted under the new tourism policy in the categories of best infrastructure, best women entrepreneur, best start-up, best innovative project, best maintained tourist facility, cleanest tourist destination, cleanest roadside dhaba, best ICT project on Assam tourism, best warden of wildlife destinations, best photo journalist.
Beginning November 1 this year, Assam Tourism will launch a massive campaign to promote its `Awesome Assam’ brand both globally and within the country. Road shows will be organized in European/ South Asian countries while chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will lead such road shows in major Indian cities. The `Awesome Assam’ campaign has roped in fames actor Priyanak Chopra as the brand ambassador.