BangkokPost-Dec 9
The government looks set to increase incentives and deregulate foreign film shoots in Thailand, aiming to promote shooting and production. Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) ordered related agencies at a meeting on Dec 3 to find fresh ways to lure more foreign film shoots to Thailand. New incentives should be finalized and proposed to CESA’s next meeting in January, he said. According to Mr Danucha, rules and regulations pertaining to foreign film shoots involve various agencies, while work permit procedures are not convenient for film shoots, the import tax for equipment is relatively high and state agencies’ regulations for use of public areas are unclear. A major obstacle is some regulations are outdated, such as a requirement that actors take a blood test for syphilis, he said. Thailand currently offers a cash rebate equivalent to 15% of every 50 million baht spent on a film shoot. An extra 5% cash rebate is offered if foreign film studios hire Thai staff, promote Thai culture and shoot in second-tier tourism provinces. In 2020, there were 176 foreign film shoots in Thailand, of which 74 were movies, 33 were series, 28 advertisements and 41 other types. The average production cost was 100-300 million baht. Read more at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2228939/more-incentives-for-foreign-film-shoots
