Bangkok, Thailand, January 25, 2012 – Representatives from the Department of Tourism, Thailand Film Office attending the Asian Film Commissions Network (AFCnet),  ASEAN – ROK Cooperation Project  in Vietnam and Myanmar January 9^th – 12^th 2012, called for increased film commission regional cooperation: 

“AFCnet efforts at encouraging film commissions in the region to share their expertise and co-venture with one another is a way to expand our business efforts in a very competitive international environment,” said Ms. Worateera Suvarnsorn, Chief of the Thailand Film Office Film Business Promotion Section who along with Ms. Ubolwan Sucharitakul, Chief of the Thailand Film Office Shooting Permit Consideration Section presented a Thailand Case Study for “Invigorating Tourism Through Films.”

The Seminar, a series of information and networking meetings sponsored by AFCnet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea was held with film commission representatives of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which will come into effect in 2015.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam

Citing several of Thailand’s high profile foreign productions filmed in the Kingdom, such as 20^th Century Fox’s The Beach (2000), and Warner Bros. The Hangover Part II (2011), Ms. Sucharitakul called for coordinated film tourism routes to be promoted which will facilitate increased tourism between neighboring countries.

Film tourism is defined as tourist visits to a destination or attraction as a result of the destinations being featured on television, video or the cinema screen. Film tourism is a growing phenomenon worldwide fueled by the growth in the entertainment industry and the increase in international tourism.

While The Hangover Part II film tourism is still building, it is known that for The Beach, heightening of awareness to the destination shown in the film is credited with a 22% increase in youth tourism to the location.

An example of a film tourism itinerary of interest to foreign tourists might be a coordinated Bangkok (Thailand) – “Hangover II”: Siem Reap (Cambodia) – “Tomb Raider” travel route.

Thai TV dramas are having a similar film tourism effect. In 2010 – 2011 the Thai TV drama Roy Adeet Hang Rak (Track of Love) was the No. 2 drama on China’s CCTV 8.

Since then, the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand increased more than 57% in 2011 from 2010: many of them wanting to visit Thai locations from the series.

One result of the Seminar was an invitation from Lao PDR for Thai Film Office representatives to visit Vientiane later this year, to explore closer ties and help strengthen film tourism marketing efforts.

For additional information contact:

fit@thailandfilmoffice.org