Tourism Dept expects major income boost from 'Thailand Film Destination Fesival'

[webfact]

FILM
Tourism Dept expects major income boost from 'Thailand
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Department targets revenue of Bt2.5 billion from foreign movies being shot in the Kingdom this year, boosted by the second "Thailand International Film Destination Festival", which takes place from April 20-29.

The theme of the festival is "Thailand - Take Two … Action!", and the initiative is to push for the country to become one of the world's leading movie locations, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Anuparb Gaysornsuwan, director-general of the department, said yesterday.

"Thailand - Take Two … Action!" signifies the fact that this year's festival is the second to be held, and also that Thailand is ready for more action despite the political disruption that took place earlier this year, but which had no significant impact on the industry, he said.

In January and February, the country generated more than Bt600 million of revenue from foreign films being shot here. By the end of the year, it hopes to surpass the Bt2.5-billion goal, he added.

The Tourism Department, which is part of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, is preparing to host the festival after the tremendous success of the first event.

Last year's event enabled the Kingdom to generate 22 per cent more income from the local shooting of foreign movies than in the previous year, he said. Anuparb described the "Thailand International Film Destination Festival" as one of a kind, in that it is the world's only festival that combines movie-making and tourism. The two aspects support each other under three strategies.

Firstly, it is a way for Thailand to showcase its readiness in terms of location, personnel and state-of-the-art film equipment through the international short-film festival.

Secondly, it is an opportunity for location managers to improve their skills from knowledge transfer by international experts. Location managers are literally the first point of contact when a movie is looking for a location, so equipping them with the skills they need is integral to the industry's success, said the department head.

Lastly, the festival cements the trust Thailand has long received as a film destination of choice. Screenings of movies shot here are the perfect way to show the world why Thailand has been chosen as the location for many internationally renowned movies.

The festival will consist of five key activities: an opening press conference; "Thailand on Screen", during which movies shot in Thailand will be shown; the "Amazing Thailand Film Challenge", which is a contest for short films shot in Thailand; "Hot Set - Thailand's incredible locations", a seminar for movie-making personnel; and the awards and closing ceremony.

-- The Nation 2014-04-07

[Bluespunk]

Not sure "Action" is the right image for the country at present.

[bangkokheat]

oh no, not another hub

[NongKhaiKid]

The only movies applicable to LoS these days would have titles like ' End Of Days ', ' Apocalypse Now ' and the like.

[bangkokheat]

no need to bring actors, just bring the camera crew and start filming, plenty of actors and action here

[PatOngo]

"Hot Set - Thailand's incredible locations"

Welcome to Lumphini Park, Chaeng Wattana and Aksa Road.

[noitom]

They could easily do a remake of the Lenni Reifenstahl film The Triumph Of Will, the classic Nazi propaganda work.

[Tatsujin]

Is it only Thailand that constantly reports on how much money they are going to make from people? I don't remember the UK newspapers focusing on this in the same way. What about other countries?

[worgeordie]

Yes, the new movie "the Coup" will have tourists flocking in,

and who knows, be extras when the next real coup occurs !

regards Worgeordie

[noitom]

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Is it only Thailand that constantly reports on how much money they are going to make from people? I don't remember the UK newspapers focusing on this in the same way. What about other countries?

Thailand and Thais are always for sale and in it for the cash to them - they think everyone measures everyone by how much they are getting from others. Thai women are notorious for comparing how much each gets fro their husband or various boyfriends. It's often the only conversation that they have. The Thai tour people are merely a mirror image of the way that they have worked since the big foreign trade in sex started back in the 50s and 60s.

[NongKhaiKid]

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Is it only Thailand that constantly reports on how much money they are going to make from people? I don't remember the UK newspapers focusing on this in the same way. What about other countries?

Thailand and Thais are always for sale and in it for the cash to them - they think everyone measures everyone by how much they are getting from others. Thai women are notorious for comparing how much each gets fro their husband or various boyfriends. It's often the only conversation that they have. The Thai tour people are merely a mirror image of the way that they have worked since the big foreign trade in sex started back in the 50s and 60s.

This issue says it all about the country, the people, attitudes and Thainess.

[AryanicAristocrat]

YES YES......I was always waiting for the sequel of "THE PLANET OF THE APES".

[expat888]

TAT is always desperate to get business and tourist into the country. They wouldn't have to work so hard at it if Thailand would clean up it's act.

Maybe they just like playing the game and don't care either way. I sure don't.

[londonthai]

those 2.5bln planned to be taken this year will almost even up 50bln lost in economy every single month since the beginning of protests. That's over 250bln against 2.5bln

[WhizBang]

That should coinside with the Thai civil war that seems likely to start in the same time frame.

Now that should impact tourism, but not in the way TAT wants.

[SoilSpoil]

All these negative Thai bashing posts make we wanna puke.

A lot of foreign movie producers would love to shoot their movies in Thailand.

Unfortunately for them, it's against the law here.

[slapout]

The tourism group had better get in high gear if they want to make up, what 3 of the main government collection agencies, are down in revenue, Thailand is looking for monies to run their corrupt system of government. They have had 3 years of losses since 2006 and see if you can guess whose political group have had a hand in all 3 of these shortfalls?

With the reputation Thailand is building on, for the treatment and attitude of locals toward the tourists that do come to partake of the various activities, they make the ''stepchild'' look like royality.

[londonthai]

All these negative Thai bashing posts make we wanna puke.

A lot of foreign movie producers would love to shoot their movies in Thailand.

Unfortunately for them, it's against the law here.

only pornographic movies are forbidden

[stickylies]

oh boy

[Halion]

Nero fiddles while Rome burns. This continual propaganda is merely an attempt by these clowns to try to keep their cushy jobs. A proper days work would put the majority of them in intensive care.

[bigbamboo]

I wonder what the movie "The Revenge Of The Blue Diamond" will do for Thai tourism?

And who will play Inspector Cluechai?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I'll take as it is written: "Anuparb described the 'Thailand International Film Destination Festival' as one of a kind, in that it is the world's only festival that combines movie-making and tourism." You can say this about every film festival in the world.

[Ulic]

Despite all the negativity here there is an excellent film production business with very talented and capable people

in Thailand. Lots of possibilities here. Rhianna shot a music video here last year. There are many Thai comedies

which are really quite funny and should be dubbed into English.