Thailand dangles 30% rebates to lure big-budget film crews
The Thai government is rolling out the red carpet for foreign film producers, dangling increased rebates and support as global interest in the country as a shooting destination surges.
A recent surge in major international productions, led by HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3, which was filmed in Thailand, has sparked renewed interest in the kingdom’s tropical locations and generous cash incentives.
The final episode of The White Lotus drew 6.2 million US viewers, a 30% jump from the previous episode. The series averaged 16 million viewers overall, potentially giving Thailand’s scenic locations a major boost in global visibility.
Adding to the buzz is the highly anticipated Jurassic World, scheduled for release this July, which also features scenes shot in Thailand.
To attract more blockbusters, the Department of Tourism has increased its cash rebate for foreign film productions to 30%. The rebate is part of the Thailand International Filming Promotion Measure, which also offers additional perks to production companies.
The results are already showing. In 2024, 491 foreign productions shot in Thailand, generating over 6.58 billion baht for the economy.
New target set
Tourism official Chaturon Phakdeewanich said the department has now set a new revenue target of 10 billion baht for 2025, up from the previous goal of 7.5 billion.
To reach that milestone, Chaturon shared that the department is seeking 800 million baht in funding, 400 million baht more than originally requested, to provide sufficient rebates amid rising demand.
“We anticipate continued interest from other film and television projects, and therefore need to ensure we have sufficient funds to provide the necessary rebates to meet this increasing demand.”
Early figures from 2025 (January to March) show a strong start, with 155 foreign productions already filmed, generating 1.7 billion baht.
In 2024, 15 productions claimed 509 million baht in rebates under the incentive measure, bringing in 2.876 billion baht and supporting over 43,000 jobs in Thailand’s film and related sectors.
The department recently attended FILMART 2025 in Hong Kong, where over 700 businesses inquired about filming permits and rebates. Interest from China and Hong Kong was especially strong. That event alone could bring in over 2 billion baht in new film-related investments to Thailand.
Chaturon further added that more than 20 major producers have expressed their intention to shoot in Thailand in 2025 to 2026.
Thailand’s incentive programme is one of several across the globe. While Thailand offers cash rebates, other countries such as France and Hungary provide tax breaks, and nations like the UK and Spain use tax credit systems.
Thailand’s strategy is to use the 30% incentive to draw foreign currency, boost local tourism, and create jobs across related sectors, from hotels and transportation to film crews and service industries, reported The Nation.
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