The Jobs and Tourism Ministry is hailing the potential economic spin off from the Times of India Film Awards.
Minister Pat Bell says almost seven million dollars of advertising space, promoting BC, was snapped in India.
Bell says on top of that "The 6000 direct and indirect employees that were hired in British Columbia during the TIOFA event. The 3000 hotel room nights booked by the Times group in Vancouver during the event."
Bell says it all adds up to TOIFA success with "Significant benefits, the Time of India awards show will pay off, no question about it."
However when asked what his estimate is of actual economic benefit to BC due to the awards show Bell said it is still too early to tell.
But NDP Tourism critic Spencer Chandra-Herbert isn’t buying the numbers.
"This just to me on the even of an election looks like the Liberals trying to justify what was really about trying to buy votes."
Chandra-Herbert says significant taxpayer dollars were spent on the awards show and while he hopes it will bring benefits to BC he is not holding his breath.
Chandra-Herbert says the BC Government has suspect motives and a poor track record "And are now trying to justify the expense of 11-million dollars because the public doesn't buy their argument about why they needed to spend the money
The Times of India Awards show have yet to actually air on TV in India.