Thai Tourism Minister has plans afoot to woo Hollywood

[webfact]

TOURISM
Plans afoot to woo Hollywood
Erich Parpart, Suchat Sritama


Kobkarn

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved in principle the Tourism and Sports Ministry's idea of attracting the producers of Hollywood movies to use Thailand as the setting for their next blockbusters.

"We are talking about famous blockbuster movies with high budgets such as 'Star Wars', for which, at one point, Thailand was considered as a location, but [the producers] opted to use the United Kingdom instead because it offered incentives and Thailand did not," Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said after the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

"If we had incentives with some boundaries, such as using places that have tourist attractions as part of the movie sets, than we could promote our country's image. Many countries in the region are also considering the same measures right now," she said.

She claimed that when a "James Bond" or "Mission: Impossible" movie was set in a particular country, tourist activities there increased by around 20-30 per cent in the year the movie came out.

She said the Cabinet had approved the idea in principle. Her ministry will discuss the matter with the Budget Bureau and other agencies before recommending to the Cabinet within a couple of months what kind of incentives should be offered, along with what regulations for the measures would be employed.

Insufficiently comprehensive

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the 2008 Tourism and Tourist Guide Business Act as proposed by the ministry, as the law was seen to be outdated and insufficiently comprehensive.

The amendments reduce the term of tour-guide licences from five years to two. The size of tour groups will be limited and the number of tour guides per group specified. Foreign-language requirements for tour guides have also been added.

Still under consideration is some sort of regulation to ensure adequate accident insurance from tourists.

Meanwhile, Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), expressed concerns over the destruction of the natural environment if the government were unable to control filmmakers' activities.

He said the country's image and tourist attractions might be promoted in the movies, but the environment and attractions could also be damaged, as has happened in the past.

"I don't mind if the government wants to attract more filmmaking by subsidising it, but the bigger concern is how to protect our environment from filming," he said.

The TCT urged the government to learn from the failures of the past. For instance, Maya Bay in Krabi, which was used as the location of "The Beach", has still not recovered from the damage caused by the filmmakers.

The council also suggested that the Film Board, the official body that regulates and monitors filmmaking, be more concerned about long-term environmental impacts than about making money.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Plans-afoot-to-woo-Hollywood-30266379.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-12

[webfact]

Star Wars Inspires Tourism Chief To Use Force of Filmmaker Refunds
By Khaosod English


A member of Thailand's 501st Legion of Stormtroopers pauses to pose with some fans on 2 Nov., 2014. Photo: The 501st Legion, Bangkok

BANGKOK — A disturbance in the force of Thailand’s appeal to foreign film productions has prompted its top tourism official to propose new incentives for filmmakers.

After unveiling a new cost incentive for foreign productions to film in Thailand, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanawarangkul said today she was motivated to come up with the plan by the loss of a particularly high-profile production to England recently.

“I come up with this idea after I learn that Thailand missed being selected as a filming location for the new Star Wars film, which was eventually shot in Britain, because they offered better terms than Thailand. When Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha knew about this, he felt very disappointed,” Kobkarn told Matichon Online.

Shots of Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand were used as the basis for the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

Under the new proposal she announced today, Kobkarn said foreign filmmakers would be refunded “15 to 20 percent” of their production costs if they came to Thailand.

Kobkarn said under the plan submitted to the junta cabinet for approval, the state will set aside 100 million baht to 200 million baht for the refund program.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1439296149&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-08-12

[khwaibah]

Keep making block busters like No Escape and TAT can go nuts,

[EricBerg]

"She claimed that when a "James Bond" or "Mission: Impossible" movie was set in a particular country, tourist activities there increased by around 20-30 per cent in the year the movie came out."

"Foreign-language requirements for tour guides have also been added."

There. Now she's got her "Mission: Impossible".

[Jessi]

I cant see "Hollywood" wanting to come here, too much B/S and corruption.

Also Thailand has a habit of moving the goal post half way through the game.

Thailand is just starting to wake up that they have lost a lot of tourism and

are now desperately trying to get it back.

[Bluespunk]

"Under the new proposal she announced today, Kobkarn said foreign filmmakers would be refunded 15 to 20 percent of their production costs if they came to Thailand.

Kobkarn said under the plan submitted to the junta cabinet for approval, the state will set aside 100 million baht to 200 million baht for the refund program."

Is she aware how much a "blockbuster" movie such as the ones she mentions cost to make?

[MaiChai]

Tropic Thunder 2?

[LomSak27]

Wonder if the ministry is going to review the brouhaha regarding making The Beach in Thailand?

That put a big dent in Thailand reputations a good place to film. Strangely enough Hollywood and even Leonardo, felt Thailand was a good place to get extorted. That put the skids on, gosh almost two decades ago.

Now as tourist numbers continue to rise TAT is getting even more desperate ( HUH WHAT?) They see films as a way to pump up the numbers.

Good luck guys

[NongKhaiKid]

Will TAT's regular B/S arrival figures now include how many Hollywood film producers came ?

[Jessi]

Will TAT's regular B/S arrival figures now include how many Hollywood film producers came ?

In following ToT instructions they will be counted twice.....Order from the SPIN factory.

[alant]

Better make sure the roles are not on the " list of jobs aliens do not" or the remake of star wars is buggered...

[shirtless]

Thailand has lost its appeal , its not cheap , its not prestine, and the people are no longer friendly,

[zaphod reborn]

Juthamas Siriwan redux.

Will they ever learn?

[Fat Haggis]

But her claims of the ever increasing tourist numbers, why the need to woo anyone?

[simon43]

For instance, Maya Bay in Krabi, which was used as the location of "The Beach", has still not recovered from the damage caused by the filmmakers.

Lol, I think they mean the damage done by the daily hordes of Chinese tourists

[DrTuner]

Offer some free vouchers to services at Nana and Walking Street. Why go for anything else but the main attraction?

[Jessi]

Can the mods close this thread because the B/S coming from this story is making a mess on my keyboard, its destroyed the screen.

[Sydebolle]

I sometimes wonder what kind of weed the boys and girls down at the TAT are smoking these days. Because, except a lot of smoke, nothing really materialises.

Talk to the Interior Ministry (responsible for the police and ultimately the immigration) and clean up the visa mess; even small spenders with a budget of THB 30'000 a month spend money they did not earn here (100% spending); clean up the airport from all those crooks, get the cabbies to move customers from A to B and mark them with a colour on the roof if English is basically understood.

Thailand does not need an aware-campaign but a definite make-over of reputation. So forget the Star and other Wars; get your act together and promote Thailand for what Thailand rose to stardom 30 years ago. EARN instead of CHEAT and RIP-OFF!

[gudtymchuk]

I can see the TAT promo now, "come film your movie in David Carradine's hotel room". Thus the curious tourist stampede begins.....

[harada]

I can see a new HUB in the making.

[clockman]

Thailand has lost its appeal , its not cheap , its not prestine, and the people are no longer friendly,

You hit the nail on the head. Killed the golden goose. And the reason total corruption in every sector!

[hutchings1963]

IF they make movies here,what sought of visa will they need because if the come the same day they will lose a day because they have to do a 90 day report at the immigration.Come on Thailand you are a joke in every bodies eyes around the world,if we are in trouble any where in Thailand it is our fault not the Thais,will the film crews go down to the beach and film i hope they do not use jet skies and get ripped off.Tell me also the set will have to have food stand,will after one day will they start double priceing because falang is cash cow in there eyes.

[DLock]

You just have to look at Wikipedia to see that Thailand has done pretty well with movies over the years...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_shot_in_Thailand

However, it also shows a dramatic slowdown since about 2007.

Kobkarn is on the right idea...I'm just not sure Thailand is as alluring as it once was...

[geriatrickid]

Interesting timing.

Documentary 'An Open Secret' aims to expose child predators in Hollywood Amy Berg's documentary "An Open Secret," which hits New York on Friday amid a struggle to get it seen — and a threatened lawsuit from SAG-AFTRA, one of Hollywood's most powerful union groups. But Berg and her film's team are intent on getting the word out about sexual predators in the TV, movie and modeling business who abuse kids. The film is beginning a theatrical rollout in 20 cities nationwide."The problem goes far and deep in Hollywood," says "An Open Secret" executive producer Gabe Hoffman. "The film tries to establish that the industry clearly has an institutional resistance [to calling out predators]. There should be, among many things, background cross-checking for people who work with children."Adds coproducer Matthew Valentinas, "This might be the film that busts the dam on this subject."

It might be a good time for the foreign film business to relocate to Thailand long known as a popular sexpat destination. Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Rai, all are a pedophile's dream destination. Thailand can roll out the welcome wagon

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Love it, when a country pimps itself out.

[Lupatria]

Learn from the past. There is always a chance to gain money from the movie industry:

Jittisopa Siriwan, the daughter of Juthamas Siriwan, the former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), received over $ 1.7 million in exchange for awarding multiple contracts to organize the Bangkok International Film Festival.

[Usernames]

I cant see "Hollywood" wanting to come here, too much B/S and corruption.

Also Thailand has a habit of moving the goal post half way through the game.

Thailand is just starting to wake up that they have lost a lot of tourism and

are now desperately trying to get it back.

"Hollywood" does come here a lot already. But what is being made is usually TV, such as Strike Back, or middle to lower level feature films. Which is not bad. These films are the lifeblood of the industry, not blockbusters. Interesting remark, here, however: "The TCT urged the government to learn from the failures of the past. For instance, Maya Bay in Krabi, which was used as the location of "The Beach", has still not recovered from the damage caused by the filmmakers." The last time I saw a picture of this place is was so crowded with Chinese tourists, you would have thought it had been turned into a walrus reservation.

[smutcakes]

One things for sure, that to get this rolling, multiple TAT trips to Hollywood will be necessary for the authorities and their friends and families.

[wabothai]

Nuts !!

[LannaGuy]

You mean like Owen Wilson's new film?

http://pagesix.com/2015/08/10/owen-wilsons-movie-is-banned-in-thailand/

Allowed to film in Thailand but now banned??? that's a good way to 'woo Hollywood'