Kenya wooing Bollywood producers to shoot films there

Ahmedabad, Feb 14 (PTI)The tourist department of Kenyaafter attracting hordes of Indian tourists is now trying towoo Bollywood producers to shoot their films there, a topgovernment official said here today.

There has been an upswing in the number of Indiantourists flying to the African country as close to 40,000people visited Kenya between January and October 2010, up 34per cent over the same period the year before.

KTB Marketing Director Jennifer Opondo said the boardis now marketing Kenya as an ideal location for film shooting.

"After due diligence with the Indian film productionhouses, the Kenya Film Commission is expected to come out witha policy that would facilitate film shooting," Opondo said.

"We are working in coordination with the Kenya FilmCommission and are studying the dynamics of Indian filmproduction houses so as to able to support them in theirendeavours," she said.

"The Kenya Film Commission has been acting as one stopshop for the filmmakers now, cutting across the tediouslicensing regime prevalent earlier," Opondo said.

"The commission has also started suggesting suitablesites for film shooting to the production houses visitingKenya," she said.

She also said that having gained foothold in theIndian market with a representative office, KTB is likely toincrease promotional investments in India.

"The opening of our representative office in Indialast year has laid the foundation for us. All I can foreseenow is there will be improvement in budget for promotionalinvestments in India," Opondo said.