Thailand’s Rise as a Prime Filming Destination: The Impact of ‘The White Lotus’
“The White Lotus” has chosen Thailand for its third season, contributing to a surge in film and TV productions in the region. The country is appealing due to its stunning visuals, significant financial rebates, and proactive support for filmmakers, achieving record numbers in 2024. The Thailand Film Office promotes the destination as an ideal place for filming and leisure.
The television series “The White Lotus” captivates audiences with its engaging narrative and exotic locations, showcasing beautiful settings in Thailand for its third season. Filming primarily occurs at prominent venues such as the Four Seasons in Koh Samui and Anantara Mai Khao in Phuket. This follows previous seasons shot in Hawaii and Italy, adding to the show’s allure by integrating stunning visuals with its storytelling.
In 2024, Thailand has welcomed 490 film and TV productions, marking its highest output since before the pandemic. Netflix’s “The Night Agent” and FX’s upcoming sci-fi series “Alien: Earth” have utilized Bangkok as a filming backdrop, while Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” includes scenes from various picturesque Thai locations such as Krabi and Chiang Mai.
The Thailand Film Office notes that despite the pandemic’s harsh impact globally, it served as a pivotal moment for the country’s film industry. They promptly established guidelines in collaboration with the Department of Disease Control to maintain production momentum, resulting in 121 projects filming in 2021 alone. Supatana Sakpiyaphan, a tourism development officer, indicates that many filmmakers discovered Thailand during this period, sparking increased interest in using the location for productions.
Thailand’s visual appeal includes stunning landscapes, from southern beaches to northern mountains. The Thai Tourism Office offers extensive support to productions, streamlining processes such as hiring crews and scoping locations. Furthermore, financial incentives have greatly enhanced Thailand’s attractiveness, with cash rebates for foreign productions recently increasing to 30% of spending.
Cash rebates depend on the production budget, with as much as 25% available for expenditures exceeding 150 million Thai baht (roughly $4.3 million). Additional incentives reward productions employing Thai nationals or promoting tourism, with possible extra rebates for filming in specific regions or utilizing post-production services in Thailand. This has drawn attention from Hollywood as more filmmakers express intentions to shoot in the country.
Sakpiyaphan highlights the importance of balancing work with enjoyment during visits to Thailand, promoting the country as an ideal “workation” destination for those in the film industry.
In summary, Thailand is emerging as a prime filming location for international productions, aided by its picturesque landscapes, financial incentives, and effective support from the Thai Tourism Office. With 490 films and shows recorded in 2024 alone, industry professionals emphasize the importance of combining work with leisure, making Thailand an attractive destination for filmmakers.
Original Source: variety.com
