Angara pushes film tourism

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed a bill that seeks to promote the country’s film tourism by providing tax incentives to production companies, both foreign and local.

“Film tourism is a growing phenomenon wherein a destination is visited by tourists because it was featured in a movie, television or video,” Angara said.

He added that an interest in the nation and its positive image could eventually lead to an actual visit to the country. “Thus, there is a need to promote the Philippines as a destination for filmmakers,” said Angara, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism.

Angara cited in particular New Zealand’s tourism industry. New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals jumped to 2.4 million in 2006 from 1.7 million in 2000 after the filming of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the “Hobbit” on location there.

In Scotland, the William Wallace Monument got a 300-percent increase in visitors when actor and director Mel Gibson released “Braveheart,” he pointed out.

Angara’s Senate Bill No. 2160 or the “Fostering Investment through Local and International Movies (FILM) Act” aims to attract filmmakers by providing incentives to film production companies, primarily through tax credits ranging from 20 to 40 percent under a point-based incentive system.