India’s Ministry of Tourism and Netflix have unveiled two promotional films at ITB Berlin to highlight the country’s festivals, heritage and cuisine, marking the beginning of a ten-film series designed to promote Indian destinations globally.
India’s Ministry of Tourism has partnered with streaming giant Netflix to promote the country’s destinations to global audiences through cinematic storytelling. The initiative was showcased at ITB Berlin, one of the world’s leading travel trade fairs, where two promotional films highlighting India’s culture, heritage and cuisine were unveiled.
India’s Ministry of Tourism has partnered with streaming giant Netflix to promote the country’s destinations to global audiences through cinematic storytelling. The initiative was showcased at ITB Berlin, one of the world’s leading travel trade fairs, where two promotional films highlighting India’s culture, heritage and cuisine were unveiled.
The collaboration reflects a growing trend in destination marketing, where film and television productions inspire travel by bringing landscapes, traditions and local cultures to life on screen.
The two films — India’s Vibrant Culture, Festivals and Heritage and Flavours of India — were launched at ITB Berlin by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The global tourism event, held in Berlin from March 3–5, 2026, serves as a key platform for countries to promote their travel offerings and build international partnerships.
Developed in collaboration with the government’s flagship tourism initiative Incredible India, the films highlight the country’s diversity — from festivals and cuisine to wildlife, adventure tourism and natural landscapes. The visuals draw from memorable scenes featured in Netflix films and series produced in India over the past decade.
The videos are designed to demonstrate how storytelling through film and streaming content can inspire travellers to discover destinations they see on screen.
The two videos mark the beginning of a planned series of ten short promotional films under the partnership between Netflix and the Ministry of Tourism. According to officials, the series aims to showcase India’s cultural richness and geographic diversity while reaching international audiences through Netflix’s global platform.
The campaign builds on a non-commercial Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Netflix Entertainment Services India in 2025. The agreement aims to enhance the global visibility of Indian tourism destinations by leveraging cinematic narratives and digital entertainment platforms.
Through the collaboration, destinations across the country may also be integrated into storylines of Netflix India’s original productions, aligning entertainment content with tourism promotion.
Film and television have long played a significant role in influencing travel trends. Global streaming platforms in particular have demonstrated the ability to drive tourism interest by showcasing distinctive landscapes and cultures through popular series and films.
India has already served as a backdrop for several Netflix productions that highlight the country’s diverse settings, from coastal regions and forests to historic towns and bustling cities. Such portrayals can encourage audiences to explore the real locations featured on screen.
Officials believe that using cinematic storytelling as a promotional tool can create stronger emotional connections with viewers, making destinations more memorable and appealing to potential travellers.
The initiative was announced as part of India’s broader participation at ITB Berlin 2026, where the country also presented an “Incredible India” pavilion showcasing heritage, wellness, wildlife and experiential travel offerings. The pavilion brought together destination management companies and state tourism representatives to strengthen global partnerships.
By combining entertainment and tourism marketing, the government hopes to reach new audiences and inspire travellers to explore India’s diverse cultural and natural attractions. The Netflix collaboration represents one of several strategies aimed at boosting international tourism and highlighting the country’s living traditions, culinary heritage and landscapes to viewers worldwide.
(With inputs from various sources.)