Thailand's Film Industry Booms with Record Foreign Investment
Foreign film productions inject over 2.86 billion baht into the Thai economy in the first half of 2025, significantly exceeding government targets and boosting tourism
- Foreign film productions injected a record 2.866 billion baht into Thailand's economy in the first six months of 2025, largely due to a government rebate scheme offering up to 30% on spending.
- The significant investment from 279 international shoots has boosted tourism and related sectors, prompting officials to raise the total annual revenue forecast from 7.5 billion to 10 billion baht.
Thailand is cementing its reputation as a leading international filming destination, with foreign film productions injecting a remarkable 2.866 billion baht into the national economy during the first six months of 2025.
This surge, driven by attractive government incentives, puts the country on track to significantly outperform its annual revenue targets.
Sasikarn Wattanachan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, confirmed that the Department of Tourism's Thailand Film Office recorded 279 foreign film shoots from around the globe between 1st January and 30th June this year.
These figures represent actual expenditures, distributing revenue across various sectors, including the film industry itself, tourism, and numerous related businesses.
Beyond direct financial gain, the influx of productions offers invaluable global promotion for Thailand, fostering "film-induced tourism."
The top four countries with the most productions in Thailand were India, South Korea, Japan, and China. Popular filming locations included Bangkok, Pathum Thani, and Chonburi.
The Thailand Film Office now anticipates total revenue from foreign film productions to reach an impressive 10 billion baht for the whole of 2025. This far exceeds the initial target of 7.5 billion baht.
"This year, several blockbuster films have chosen Thailand for their shoots, such as Jurassic World and White Lotus, and we expect other interested productions to continue coming to Thailand," Sasikarn stated.
The Thai government is actively promoting the nation as a "Premiere Filming Destination".
A key incentive for this success is a rebate scheme offering foreign film productions up to 30% on their spending.
This measure is designed to attract even more international filmmakers, providing a substantial boost to the domestic economy.
The benefits ripple through various sectors, from hotels and restaurants to local service providers and communities directly involved with filming locations, thereby stimulating tourism and enhancing Thailand's global image.
