National Film Awards to move to India’s top tourist destinations: Ashwini Vaishnaw

NEW DELHI: The National Film Awards are set to step out of conventional conference rooms and into some of India’s leading tourist destinations, with states being invited to propose locations to host future editions of the awards.

Union minister for information and broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the move is aimed at bringing film and tourism closer together and giving national recognition to destinations beyond traditional event venues.

Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw said the National Film Awards would be taken to the country’s best tourist destinations, drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach of taking major national events to different parts of the country.

The minister pointed to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat as an example of how a destination can gain wider recognition when it hosts high-profile national events. The location is home to the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and has emerged as a prominent tourism destination.

Vaishnaw said the presence of the President of India, along with leading personalities from the Indian film industry, at such destinations could help more people discover and experience them.

The minister has invited states to submit proposals identifying their best tourism destinations for hosting the National Film Awards.

The proposals will need to outline the facilities available at the destination as well as a plan for its 360-degree development. The state whose proposal is selected will host a subsequent edition of the National Film Awards at the proposed tourist destination.

The initiative effectively turns the awards into a platform for showcasing destinations, while giving participating states an opportunity to highlight their tourism infrastructure and development plans.

Vaishnaw also recalled the G20 presidency hosted by India, during which events were organised across different states and parts of the country.

He said the National Film Awards would follow a similar broader approach, with the government looking at ways to bring the film and tourism sectors together.

According to the minister, the idea is to create benefits for both sides: tourist destinations can gain visibility through the national film community, while the awards themselves can reach audiences and locations beyond a conventional event setting.

The initiative marks a broader push to connect India’s film ecosystem with tourism, using one of the country’s most prominent national film honours to spotlight destinations across the country.