‘Cinema is the most powerful tool for tourism promotion,’ says filmmaker Rahul Mittra at Vietnam Tourism Forum

Acclaimed filmmaker & branding specialist Rahul Mittra was honoured for his contribution to cinema & the arts at the Vietnam Tourism Forum at the sprawling Embassy of Vietnam in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi recently. Rahul Mittra had earlier this year in August led a high level delegation of the Indian film industry for the first ever Namaste Vietnam Festival held in Ho Chi Minh city and Nha Trang to mark 75 years of Indian Independence & 50 years of diplomatic ties between the countries.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India, the Embassy of Vietnam in India, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam organised the Vietnam Tourism Forum in India.

The forum was organised in order to prioritize the promotion and discussion on high-end weddings, golf tourism, conference and filming destinations. Delivering his keynote address, award-winning filmmaker-actor Rahul Mittra stressed on the importance of locations in films and spoke at length on film-induced tourism and how cinema is one of the biggest soft powers of enhancing tourism & increasing visibility.

“Cinema is the most powerful tool of mass communication for tourism promotion”, said Rahul Mittra to a roaring applause from the audience. This special function was attended by Ambassador of Vietnam in India, Nepal & Bhutan Nguyen Thanh Hai, Co-Chairman Tourism Committee PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rajan Sehgal, Deputy Director General International cooperation from the Ministry of Culture & Tourism Vietnam Tran Nhat Hoang, Manager Sales India of Vietnam Airlines Jaideep Massand, senior government functionaries, dignitaries & top representatives of travel fraternity from both the countries, corporate honchos & media professionals.