March 18, 2013

Chinese film star Zhang Jingchu (Rush Hour 3) and filmmaker Lu Chuan will be in town next month to shoot scenes for their new movie, Old Cinderella. The Chinese production company behind the film chose Israeli backdrops for its upcoming blockbuster release.

The Chinese film crew will arrive in Israel on April 16 for a week of filming in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

The Tourism Ministry is investing over $80,000 in promoting the movie, hoping that the effect of a blockbuster movie shot in Israel will entice the Chinese public to choose Israel as their next vacation destination. According to a survey, eight million Chinese selected their 2012 tourist destination according to those countries they had seen in movies.

“The tourism potential for Israel from China is far from realized and one of the goals of the ministry for 2013 is to break through into the Chinese market. Undoubtedly, the effect of a movie, shot in Israel with leading Chinese stars, will be greater and more significant that other alternative marketing activities,” said former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov.

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