Written by on May 6, 2013. Posted in General Interest

Taiwan credits Ang Lee’s Life of Pi filming for Australian tourism boost

Taiwan has credited Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Life of Pi for its role in boosting tourism figures from Australia in the first quarter of 2013. The film spent five months filming on location in Taiwan and has reportedly had an impact on Australian film tourism.

“It was made very clear that much of the movie was shot on location in Taiwan,” the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s (TTB) Clint McCarthy told the Sydney Morning Herald, “so the Ang Lee connection has certainly been a contributory factor in bringing Taiwan to the fore.”

There was a 43% increase in the number of Australians visiting Taiwan compared to the first quarter of 2012, according to the TTB figures seen by the outlet.

Life of Pi was also shot partly in India and earlier this year the Indian government announced plans to launch its own film tourism programme. Named Land of Pi, it will promote the regions of Puducherry and Munnar with competitions and marked hiking trips.