Thailand earned $60 million from foreign film production teams shooting in the country last year according to the Department of Tourism. Department of Tourism director-general Supol Sripan says statistics of the Thailand Film Office showed that 578 productions were filmed in Thailand in 2010 earning the country $60 million in 2010 double the more than $30 million earned in 2009. The greatest number of foreign production teams was from India and Japan with European and Korean productions following close behind according to Wanasiri Morakul director of the Thailand Film Office. Morakul says Thailand's lower costs were only one factor for the rise in foreign film production in Thailand last year. Foreign film makers consistently note the availability of top quality equipment exotic locations and multilingual/cultural Thai crews that work extremely hard says Morakul. Director-general Sripan says he expected additional growth in the industry in 2011 because the Thai government has approved incentives to filmmakers. The Cabinet approved the exemption of film shooting fees in areas owned by seven state offices including the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation the Department of Fine Arts the State Railway of Thailand the Treasury Department the Royal Forest Department the Royal Irrigation Department and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Both local and foreign film production teams are subject to receive the incentive. The Cabinet approved additional incentives which are still under review by the Revenue Department. We hope additional growth will come from road shows in Europe and Russia later in 2011 and also an inbound road show of top studios producers and location coordinators that will spread the word about Thailand's industry says Morakul.
