Thailand to offer movie production incentives

The Ministry of Commerce will push forward the film services industry to make it the center of production and post-production in the Southeast Asia region. 

In the past year, the number of movies that came to Thailand for filming and production increased by 15%. The movie business includes several facets:

1. Pre-production: casting, costumes, makeup, music;

2. Production: shooting teams, locations, equipment services;

3. Post-production: computer graphics, visual effects, editing, sound.

The services that continue to bring income to Thailand are outsourcing services, production and post-production services, and location shooting services. 

There are many award-winning actors, film and animation directors, and special effects creators that generate income for Thailand worth over one billion US dollars per year.

The Government has announced a 15% tax rebate, up to 20%, for film and television production projects in Thailand that have an investment of at least 50 million baht. 

It will raise the rebate by 3% for hiring Thai people in important positions in the project, and it will add another 2% tax rebate for films that promote tourism in Thailand. 

This move aims to make Thailand a job creation base and a high-quality investment base in Asia by building up the unique Thai identity.

In the year 2017, the Ministry of Commerce’s plans for the film business services strategy include the following goals:

1. Make Thailand a job creation base and a high-quality investment hub in Asia and the gateway for foreign investors and businesses in the region;

2. Develop high-potential employees in this field to create brand-new works and develop a skilled workforce that would be wanted in foreign markets;

3. Develop relationships and cooperation between the public and private sector with targeted countries;

4. Expand the export market for Thai movies to increase their export value;

5. Generate uniquely Thai creative content, intellectual property, and the Thai brand, as well as enhancing the competitive potential for Thai entrepreneurs;

6. Enhance business relationships, and support more co-production and investment with foreign companies.

The government support for private sector needs will be as follows:

1. Hold film industry activities that include other related businesses, such as production, post-production, computer graphics, and more;

2. Organize skill and technique development seminars for Thai entrepreneurs;

3. Continue to enter Thai films in various international expos;

4. Hold inbound/outbound business matching events;

5. Strengthen trade with foreigner investors, producers, directors, and businesspeople.

The film business services bring in over 30 billion baht in revenue. The growth of this business will ensure that related businesses – such as studio and equipment services, car rental, actors’ careers, location services, visual effects and computer graphics, cinemas, restaurants, and catering – continue to grow and add to Thailand’s economic development.