BOLLYWOOD LEADS TOURISTS TO NEW ZEALAND 

Calcutta, Sept. 8 :    Calcutta, Sept. 8:  Mumbai isn't the only destination for those packing bags under the influence of Hrithik Roshan's bulging biceps and soft brown eyes. After Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai went through the roof, the white sands, blue Pacific and icy cliffs of New Zealand have seduced over 70 Indian film crews. Bollywood biggies who have followed producer Rakesh Roshan's footsteps to Kiwi locales include Abhishek Bachchan for Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai and Shararat, Arjun Rampal and the Pyar Ishq aur Mohabbat crew, Sunny Deol for Dillagi and David Dhawan and Boney Kapoor for their next flicks. But the bulk - 50 of the 70 crews - is from down South, Kamalahasan and Chiranjeevi leading the pack. But it is not just the tinsel squads which are making the beeline. The number of Indian tourists to New Zealand used to be 2,000-a-year before Hrithikmania struck. It is 15,000 now. Last year, 900 students had opted for Kiwi degrees. In 2001, the figure has already shot up to 1,500. After the 'boost the Indian film industry has given to tourism', the New Zealand Trade Development Board has a full-time employee to network with directors and producers. New Zealand trade commissioner for India Peter Healy says: 'The film crews alone have brought in an additional NZ$ 4 million, and the added tourism another NZ$ 50 to 60 million.' The stars, apparently, are 'big spenders on New Zealand labels'. The country with a one per cent (45,000) population of people of Indian origin, has become used to action-packed streets. 'Dancing in the streets is common nowadays,' says Healy, who was witness to a song sequence complete with a bevy of Indian beauties dancing on top of a train. Blocking roads to accommodate shoots is also common, Queenstown ('quite like Kashmir without the bullets') and Christchurch being the most popular locales. Plans are also on to host an Indian film festival with the films shot there. The archipelago costs 'one-fourth the amount of Europe' and has 'mountains, clear skies, long hours of daylight and unmatched beaches'. The New Zealand government is targeting other sectors as well. Lacking enough professionals in IT, engineering, food technology, teaching, nursing and law, the country has thrown its doors open to Indian students, with easy immigration offers after university. New Zealand is the fourth most popular destination for Indian students, behind the US, the UK and Australia and ahead of Canada. The New Zealand Education Fair, featuring 15 universities, is travelling the country and will come to Calcutta for a couple of days on September 20. 'Our doors are open to businessmen, particularly in IT. But so far, the boost in tourism prompted by the popularity of these films has been the most lucrative,' Healy says.