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 August 6, 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 Jr to India. Frasco pitched the Philippines as an ideal backdrop for Bollywood films, showcasing the country’s diverse filming locations as she outlined various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for filmmakers considering shooting in the Southeast Asian country.

“Film tourism is a priority product, India is the benchmark for film and film tourism, and we look to forge partnerships and collaborations to pitch the Philippines as a viable film tourism destination for India.”

In recent months, the Philippines has been prominently featured in several programs developed for television and streaming media platforms. The culinary-centric show Somebody Feed Phil, for instance, showcased the country’s rich gastronomic traditions and offerings. Likewise, the country has welcomed many international productions, including the reality show Survivor, and films such as Almost Paradise and The Bourne Legacy.

To support filmmakers, the Philippines provides 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. Additionally, partnerships with local entities allow foreign production companies to access these benefits.

Frasco emphasized that the DOT offers direct support through its newly created Office of Film and Sports Tourism (OFST) and regional offices, ensuring seamless access to diverse landscapes and historical sites. The DOT-OFST supports film productions highlighting stunning tourist destinations in the Philippines by helping filmmakers identify suitable locations for their projects.

As one of the largest English-speaking countries, the Philippines enables smooth collaboration with international film crews. Frasco elaborated: “One of the major advantages of the Philippines, apart from our natural hospitality, is that we are an English-speaking population. This sets us apart from other filming locations in ASEAN.”

With improved connectivity thanks to Air India offering direct flights from New Delhi to Manila, travel time has been reduced significantly. Furthermore, the Philippines is now more accessible than ever for filmmakers, with visa-free entry for citizens of 150 countries, including India, effective for stays of up to 14 days.