As part of the strategy to promote Spain as a tourist destination, a deduction of 18 per cent of the cost of the film and taxes and subsidies from both the Spanish Ministry of Culture and from the autonomous communities will be extended, said Mr Joan Mesquida Ferrando, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Spain.

Describing India as a huge market with fabulous potential, Arturo Ortiz, Director of promotional activities of Spain in India, said: ‘When I look at India, I see a great opportunity to offer my country Spain as a world-class, year-round destination to Indians.’

Following the success of the Bollywood hit ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', Spain tourism has initiated several incentives for film production in the country apart from other benefits to showcase the tourism potential of the country. The Spain Film Commission works together with all the regional and local film commissions and specialise in supporting production teams for shooting in Spain.

Spanish Tourism has also announced a USD 1-million spend in consumer and trade promotion in the country beginning this month, under the theme of `I need Spain'. During the year so far, Spain, which nets over 11 percent of its GDP from tourism, has seen a 35 percent growth in arrivals.

The Minister said that there has been a 65 per cent growth in the visas issued for Indians to visit Spain till August this year. For the first half of the year, there has been a growth of 35 per cent in arrivals with over 53,000 Indian arrivals with MICE contributing 20 per cent of the total Indian arrivals, Mr Ferrando said.

Spain is the world's third largest MICE country and the Corporate India too has been charmed by this destination with over 40 MICE groups visiting this year. This year Spain expects to receive more than 56 million tourists. Along with Italy, Spain has the most number of world heritage sites as proclaimed by UNESCO and it is the third country with most number of natural reserves. Tourism contributes 10.7 per cent to GDP, said Mr Arturo Ortiz, Director, Embassy of Spain Tourism Department (India).

Spain tourism's focused effort will include a high impact visibility drive comprising targeted print media campaign, online initiatives in social networking sites and working in close collaboration with travel trade. Currently, Spain is well-connected through the West Asia and is working to collaborate with airlines companies for starting direct flights to Spain, Mr Ortiz added.