'I Hate Thailand' star comes clean: Video funded by TAT

[webfact]

'I Hate Thailand' star comes clean: Video funded by TAT
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The star of the popular feel-too-good video “I Hate Thailand” said this evening the production was indeed funded by Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Oliver Smith, who appears as “James” in the video’s sugary tale of boy-loses-bag, boy-gets-girl which has been met with equal parts love and hate, told Coconuts today the project was indeed a scripted work by production company "Hub Ho Hin" that was paid for by the government to remind the world of the hospitality and friendliness of Thai people.

"It was funded by TAT," Smith said by e-mail. " I believe the purpose of making it was to portray Thailand in a good light. This is another angle on Thailand, an upbeat angle that shows the friendly, accommodating Thailand that a lot of expats and travellers alike can relate to."

Thailand’s image has been battered by an unrelenting storm of real-life incidents and crises. So the video seems a government attempt to counter reality with fiction.

Although the video was heavily staged, Smith said he can't deny he has experiences similar to those in the video.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/11/20/i-hate-thailand-star-comes-clean-video-funded-tat


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-11-21

[Thai at Heart]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

[NongKhaiKid]

Just par for the course.

All we need now is TAT to deny any involvement.

[siampolee]

Now is it possible that the ''star'' of this cunning stunt is still here in Thailand or has this cunning stunt forced a move abroad along with perhaps a reluctance to return after his confession that the window dressing was excellent but in truth the character along with the stock was and is flawed?

Edited November 21, 2014 by siampolee

[KhunMoo]

1. Two years in LOS, as a turist, nonstop - what visa is that? :-D

2. Workpermit?

3. Throw stones at the taxies, on Koh Samed....and nothing happens?

This video sucks - The old "Never go to Thailand" is a bit better

[daiwill60]

Obvious it was staged from the quality of the production ??????????

And the over smulshiness of the whole sentiment

[pinkpanther99]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

I agree, I actually think this is a good bit of marketing and refreshing change from the usual rubbish TAT puts out.

I don't think that TAT were trying to pull the wool over anyones eyes with this. I don't think they ever claimed it to be anything other than what it is and I don't think they were trying to pass it off as being 'real', so to speak.

If people watching it believed this video to be anything other than scripted, then more fool them!

In fact, it could be argued that it's been very successful as it's gained huge attention, the video has been watched more than 800,000 times on YouTube and had people talking about it on forums and throughout social media.

Sure it's cheesey but it's better than the 'Thainess' campaign and the other quickly forgotten marketing spiel they've put out in recent years.

Edited November 21, 2014 by pinkpanther99

[Tham1]

The 2015 discover Thainess campaign will be fantastic and should boost the tourist numbers to the Kingdom making it No1 destination on the planet and showing the world that it is very safe with courteous service minded people who love tourists.

http://www.tatnews.org/thai-tourism-team-presents-%E2%80%9C2015-discover-thainess%E2%80%9D-campaign-at-wtm-2014/

http://www.thaiembassy.org/chennai/en/news/4113/51329-2015-Designated-%E2%80%9CThainess%E2%80%9D-Tourism-Year-%281411201.html

[rkidlad]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

Depends what's in the bag.

Sorry, was a cheap shot that I couldn't resist.

[Thai at Heart]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

Depends what's in the bag.

Sorry, was a cheap shot that I couldn't resist.

I was waiting for him to have to go upcountry and give sinsot to marry the bird to say thanks for finding his bag.

At least he didn't get his head bashed in or rent a jet ski......

Edited November 21, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[TomYumpoochai]

Everything i try to open by coconuts is blocked by the authorities..... is this another shocking story of lies im not allowed to see then?

[JeremyBowskill]

Well we all consider Thailand a preferable option to farangland or we wouldn't be here, this video doesn't show the real place though. Well unless they edited the bit where he gets deported for teaching without a work permit or the bit where he drinks himself to death after a rough break up with Nancy over money.

[thesetat2013]

Just par for the course.

All we need now is TAT to deny any involvement.

Next weeks news

[Bluespunk]

"Although the video was heavily staged, Smith said he can't deny he has experiences similar to those in the video."

Due to contractual obligations.

[Aceicol]

Cheesy but decent video. No different to plenty of Tourist board videos around the world.

When the Visit Wales advert comes on TV I don't recognise the place at all until the flag at the end.

[TomYumpoochai]

.....so, it opens on a different provider! Tourist comes to thailand with small money, loses small money and passport, teaches kids without work permit and lives in beach bungalo for free.....and all done on a 2 year visa exempt?

.......is this the same thailand as the 1 that forces me to jump through different hoops every year just to come here and spend 1 million baht without being able to open a business and make some more money?

[zydeco]

This is an excellent video. I've seen it going around FB for a few days, now. It captures The Dream of an entire segment of would-be vacationers and visitors from the West. Extremely well done. People knocking the quality of this video haven't got a clue.

[terminatorchiangmai]

Wouw , what a surprise.

Never thought they would be so clever.

[thailand49]

To say this is all B.S. would be wrong.. It does show the two sides of Thailand? But why the video I thought and been reading from the government how the tourist are coming in waves? Maybe this was just one of those white lies Thai tell that feel as long as it is beneficial to them it is OK?

They shot themselves in the foot now they should expect themselves to walk around like they did get shot! look in the mirror and you will find and see the problem try putting that on a video if you can?

[KhunMoo]

This is an excellent video. I've seen it going around FB for a few days, now. It captures The Dream of an entire segment of would-be vacationers and visitors from the West. Extremely well done. People knocking the quality of this video haven't got a clue.

Yes, but you do agree - that it does not line up, very well, with the new way of administrating VISAS and Extensions.....right? And it does not fit, the "quality turist" agenda. Those western backpacker-types, are the ones they got rid of during the summer....now they are paying for videos, that should bring them back? Ehh...?!?

[NongKhaiKid]

Just had a horrible thought, will this become a trend ?

Will we now see ' Happiness ' videos, the ' Popularity of Gen P ' and so on ?

[arrowsdawdle]

1. Two years in LOS, as a turist, nonstop - what visa is that? :-D

2. Workpermit?

3. Throw stones at the taxies, on Koh Samed....and nothing happens?

This video sucks - The old "Never go to Thailand" is a bit better

The accurate title would be, "Thailand Sucks."

[arrowsdawdle]

Anybody know if this guy that worked in the film had a work permit?

[taony]

The video was trash, I couldn't sit through the whole thing. After a minute or two skipped to the end to confirm the inevitable conclusion, then closed it. It was stupid and condescending. Dumb angry farang saved by the pure hearted Thais. And yeah, the are just plutonic friends.

[worgeordie]

Not the first time they have misled the public,when

they put a squeaky clean beach from N.Scotland

in one of the brochures,as though it was a Thai

beach.

But i suppose thats what advertising is about,from

washing power,to pictures of a big Mac,they are

never the same in real life.

regards Worgeordie

[SteveFong]

many of the Thai people passed this around on facebook, believing it was real,

I didnt have the heart to say anything,

but, it was clearly a film

[scotbeve]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

Yes, I was a good effort.

And yes, maybe not 100 people, but a dozen or so to help look for one's bag.

[TechnikaIII]

Now is it possible that the ''star'' of this cunning stunt is still here in Thailand or has this cunning stunt forced a move abroad along with perhaps a reluctance to return after his confession that the window dressing was excellent but in truth the character along with the stock was and is flawed?

Cunning stunts or stunning c*nts, Whatever, Thailand has it all.

_{(I'm sorry, spoonerisms are a feature of my speech in real life.)}

Edited November 21, 2014 by TechnikaIII

[CraigSchuler]

I was more curious about who the Thai girl was in the video.....She's a sweet little thing!

[madmitch]

Ws this man supposed to be an example of a "quality tourist"?