Role of films in the promotion of tourism

Bangladesh is a land of scenic beauty with great potential. Here film can be used as a tool for promoting tourism destination, increasing domestic as well as foreign tourists. Film tourism can be defined as a genre within tourism that provides a link with the location of a film or a TV series. For example the location of the movie "Mission Impossible 2" is Sydney National Park. After the movie was released,  arrival of visitors increased in the park by 200 per cent in the year 2000. In Thailand "The Beach" movie increased 22 per cent visitors in youth market in 2000.
In case of Bangladesh, many film makers choose attractive places abroad as their shooting locations. The result is that people of our country become motivated to visit those countries. But if our producers shoot their films in different locations within the country, it will yield manifold benefits for the country-- increased revenue, new job creation improved communication and greater economic activities in those localities. There are beautiful locations within the country, such as, Saint Martins, Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans, Bandarban, Rangamati, Kagrachari and many more. They can also provide the name of location as subtitle, which will work as advertisements for destinations internationally.
Moreover the producers can create new tourism destination in our country by focusing on them because of their creative knowledge and aesthetic sense. Not only the films will promote tourism but also help preserve their scenic beauty. Also they will promote tourism along with preserving tradition, culture, physical infrastructure, natural history of the particular area. With the change of climate and environmental degradation, the physical conditions of our lands are undergoing fast transformation. With time these films will pass information to our next generation about tourist spots.
Comparisons may easily be made by watching several old Bangladeshi films. There is a big difference of the same location-- when the films were made and its present position. What we need is real love, passion and aspiration and feeling for our country and at the same time change of our mentality. Alongside making business, filmmakers thus can contribute to the promotion of tourism, build a positive image of the country, preserve its heritage and entertain people through the films they produce.
The writer is Co-founder of Bangladesh Youth Tourism Club, University of Dhaka ashikur3000@gmail.com