Bachchan's midas touch helps Gujarat Tourism

18-09-2010
Bachchan's midas touch helps Gujarat Tourism
Press Trust of India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Bachchan-s-midas-touch-helps-Gujarat-Tourism/Article1-601856.aspx

Having mega star Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador seems to be paying well for Gujarat tourism, a senior officer said today. Gujarat Tourism Secretary Vipul Mittra said the places where Amitabh bachchan visited during his tourism promotion campaign are generating interest amongst the tourists.

"Thousands of people have started visiting places like Somnath Temple or Gir national park where he shot the tourism campaign," he said adding a hotel property owned by Taj in Gir which was closed nine years back is also restarting its operation there.

Mittra said it was not much difficult to convince Big B to be a brand ambassador. "Chief Minister Narendra Modi called him and he immediately agreed," he said.

He Bachchan's association with Gujarat tourism will be a long-term one.

Gujarat tourism department which attracts 1. 65 crore visitors annually has also decided to promote the state as a film shooting destination.

Mittra said the state will be participating in the cinema scape festival scheduled at Mumbai in October. "We have requested Bachchan to be present at the festival," he added.