The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai, in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Mumbai organized Thailand – Bollywood Film Mission and led a visit by the delegation of Bollywood filmmakers from Mumbai to Thailand during 24^th September 25 to 2^nd October 2, 2018. The visit aims to promote Thailand as a destination for Bollywood film shoot through the promotion of measures taken by the Thai Government to promote and facilitate foreign film production in Thailand, to showcase the potential of Thai film industry, the equipped logistical infrastructure for tourism, beautiful scenery, and highly-skilled production service sector in Thailand, as well as to provide a platform for business networking and the opportunities for Indian Film sectors to engage with key film industry communities and foreign film production services companies in Thailand. The Mission also received support from Thai private sector including Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts, and the Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Krabi.

A delegation of six Bollywood filmmakers participated in the visit including a Bollywood film director - Shaad Ali, an international film location consultant, and film producers from leading production house namely Aamir Khan Production, RSVP Film, Wizfilms and Azure Entertainment. During the Seminar on Promotion Measures of Thailand Film Destination and Thai-Bollywood Filmmakers Business Networking co-organized by the Foreign Film Production Services Association of Thailand on 26 September 2018 in Bangkok, the delegation met with senior executives from government agencies, including the TAT and the Director of Thailand Film Office, Department of Tourism and had a chance to gain a first-hand in-depth information on Thailand Film Incentive and Cash Rebate Scheme for foreign film shoots. The delegation also participated in the business networking sessions with private sectors from film and production service sector, namely the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Federation of Motion Picture and Content Associations of Thailand, President of the Association of Foreign Films Production Services Association of Thailand, the President of Thai Animation and Computer Graphic Association, as well as local film producers from over 20 production and post production services companies in Thailand.

Throughout the 7 days-trip, Bollywood filmmaker delegates also visited various world-famous beautiful film locations in Bangkok, Krabi, ​​Khao Yai National Park, and Pattaya in order to explore variety of locations including metropolitan and city locations, temples, islands and beaches, forest and caves, villages and markets, and alternative locations such as man-made garden and waterparks. The Bollywood filmmakers are impressed with the beauty, uniqueness and variety of locations, and most of all the well-equipped and cost-effective logistic, transport, and hotel infrastructure and highly skilled service industry in Thailand. During the visit, the TAT Mumbai also arranged for the delegation to meet with local government representatives including Director of TAT Office of Krabi Province, Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Pattaya City, as well as representatives from the private sectors President of Tourism Association of Krabi Province, Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Pattaya City. All concerned government agencies both at the central government level and local authorities, as well as private sectors attach high importance to promoting Thailand as a destination for foreign film shoots and have demonstrated their readiness to facilitate the production of Bollywood films.

Being the second largest film industry in the world, Bollywood produces over a thousand films every year. The industry creates great economic opportunities not only domestically but also internationally since more and more Bollywood films are shot overseas. As for Thailand, there is an average of approximately 600 - 800 foreign productions done in Thailand which creates revenue of over 2-3 billion baht annually. In 2017, India ranked number one with 110 productions including feature films, music video, TV series and commercial films shot in Thailand creating revenue of over 480 million baht. Apart from economic benefit, films are also powerful tools for the promotion of tourism and cultural relations between the two countries.

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The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai

3 October 2018