Can you quantify the increase in tourist traffic from India?
Last year, the number of Indian tourists grew by 47 per cent, while overall growth was 2 per cent. This in a year when tourism was hit by worldwide recession.
Is it easy to get permission to shoot in Switzerland?
All you need is permission from the director of police or the department of justice, police and transport. A list of dates, whether any roads have to be closed and other details have to be given.
Do production units from other nations also go there?
Yes, but I feel Bollywood accounts for over 50 per cent of film shoots. Many people are quite used to watching a Hindi film being shot there.
Do Hindi films run there, like in London and in some US cities?
There aren't many Indians living there. But there's some kind of awareness I believe. The Museum of Telecommunications recently had an exhibition titled 'Creators of Romance' featuring clips of Bollywood songs. A railway station recently put out a banner commemorating 25 years of Bollywood shooting there.
