Tampa: ‘A Destination for the World’
Some very exciting news is making headlines across
the country; the 15th Annual International Indian Film Academy
(IIFA) awards are to take place in Tampa this April. This is the first time in
history that the international showcase event will be held in the United
States, and it is a great honor for Tampa to be selected as the host. Bollywood
superstars, Priyanka Chopra and Anil Kapoor, made a visit to the University of
South Florida in January during their Tampa visit and were greeted by hundreds
of fanatical students.
When Janak Vora, an IIFA representative, was asked
in a Tampa Bay Times interview
why the Tampa Bay area was selected, she replied, ‘It’s about the enthusiasm of
the community.’ Preparation and training is already underway throughout Tampa’s
hospitality industry to raise cultural awareness in order to make our guests
feel the most welcome. The Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council also
decided to commit $900,000 to support the event, along with another $100,000
from the Hillsborough County Commission for promotion.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham
spoke in a video
interview with the Tampa Bay Business Journal
regarding the privilege it is to be selected as the host of the awards, and
wishes others could have seen the jealousy of New York and Los Angeles as Tampa
was selected. He continued to say how locals often forget the benefits that
Tampa offers, but the organizers of the IIFA were able to see the greatness
that this city holds. Bollywood directors are even working on a film that
portrays the positive educational benefits and experiences of international
students that move to Tampa, FL. As Mr. Higginbotham put it so nicely, ‘Tampa
is becoming a destination for the world.’
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