Phuket

Tax breaks urged for movie makers

Published

16 years ago

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

NAI YANG: Reducing taxation and slashing red tape could help revitalise the post-tsunami film industry in Phuket and surrounding provinces, a seminar heard yesterday.

Delegates to the meeting, organised by the Office of Tourism Development and the Thai Film Office, were told that scenes for 441 foreign films were shot in Thailand in 2004, generating revenue of around 1.13 billion baht for the country.

Phuket was the fourth most popular location for foreign film producers, after Bangkok, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai, and in past years Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi together usually attracted about 100 film crews each year.

But this year, Thailand is likely to make only 10% of what it had made last year from location shooting of foreign-made films.

Thanitta Maneechote, Deputy Director-General of the Office of Tourism Development, said that, this year, seven producers in January and six in February had asked for permission to film in the Andaman region, but most of these projects were documentaries or advertisements. No one had asked for permission to film a big-budget feature film in Thailand.

K. Thanitta suggested that making it easier and cheaper for foreign producers to work in Thailand might persuade them to return.

She said, “Last year, we were approached by Hollywood movie companies wanting to shoot two films – Anaconda 2 and Ghost Rider – in Thailand, but the crews ended up going to Fiji and Australia respectively because those countries had reduced taxes on film making, and took only one or two days to decide whether or not the crews could shoot scenes in conservation areas and the like.”

She added that the movie The Beach had brought “a vast amount of money” to Krabi, where it was shot, not only directly in terms of what the film crew had spent on accommodation, food and other services, but also indirectly, because of tourists who visited Krabi after seeing the film.

Those taking part in the seminar, held at the Pearl Village Hotel, included Vice-Governor Winai Buapradit, Naritroj Fengrabill of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Information and Charoemrab Kanejorn Na Ayutthaya, Deputy Director of Foreign Public Relations for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

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News Categories: Phuket

Phuket

Thailand News Today | Pfizer vaccines on the way, Phuket’s July re-opening | May 7

Published

32 mins ago

Friday, May 7, 2021

Thaiger

Disease Control Department back-peddled saying that that foreigners living in Thailand WILL also be vaccinated, governor of Chiang Mai is calling for the ban on dining in at restaurants in the northern city to be lifted and for eateries to be allowed to serve food on-site until 9pm, Tourism and Sports Minister insists the southern island of Phuket must record zero Covid-19 cases if a planned July re-opening is to go ahead, and 150 million baht worth of methamphetamine pills were impounded in Nakhon Phanom yesterday

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Phuket

We’re looking for a Video Editor/Production Assistant in Phuket

Published

41 mins ago

Friday, May 7, 2021

Thaiger

The Thaiger is seeking a full time video editor and production assistant for a new project based in Phuket. The role is open to a Thai national but with great English skills as well. You will need to be able to work to deadlines with a crazy bunch of stressed out news hosts, guests and the rest of The Thaiger team.

You’ll also need a general knowledge of the Thai news cycle as the content will be largely centred around daily news and current affairs. Knowledge of social media, and especially YouTube, will be an advantage.

Prior work in the TV or video production industry would be a requirement; we couldn’t care less about your educational qualifications. The role would be Monday to Friday.

The work hours would be earlier in the day, probably starting around 7am. There may be some occasional travel to Bangkok involved as well. Salary would be between 30-40,000 baht per month, depending on experience with opportunities for bonuses. The initial contract would be for 3 months, renewable.

If you are interested, or know someone who could fit the job, send an email to THAIGER EDITOR at info@thethaiger.com

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Phuket red zone list adds Krabi, Trang, Ranong, Phatthalung

Published

56 mins ago

Friday, May 7, 2021

Neill Fronde

FILE PHOTO: The Phuket checkpoint now lists 25 provinces as a red zone.

Visitors to Phuket from Krabi, Trang, Ranong, and Phatthalung will now have to prove they’re vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of arrival, as they’ve been added to the red zone province list. People entering without those qualifications will have to take a rapid antigen test on the spot before being allowed into Phuket.

The 4 provinces join a group of 21 other provinces already on the Phuket red zone list requiring strict measures to enter. That list even includes Phuket itself, as people do exit the province have to prove a negative test or vaccination before being allowed to re-enter.

Phuket’s vice governor made the announcement yesterday after the governor signed the order and put it into effect until at least May 15th. That same order requires all trucks transporting goods to travel from 11 pm to 5 am, the nighttime hours that other people are not allowed to enter the island. Phuket recently closed its entry checkpoints from late night to early morning after reports of exhaustion from the health officials working to test everyone or verify their credentials.

Delivery drivers will also have to pass the same requirements as red zone province arrivals before entering Phuket. Any driver who does not have a negative test within 72 hours or proof that they’ve received both doses of a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration, will be forced to wait until the regular checkpoint opens at 5 am to receive a rapid antigen test.

Over 40,000 people from red zones have now been tested at the checkpoint to enter Phuket. In the first week of the requirement which began on April 22, health officials tested more than 22,000 people, overwhelming staff and prompting the government to close the entrance from 11 pm to 5 am to give checkpoint workers a break.

The 25 provinces currently classified as a red zone for entering Phuket are as follows:

Bangkok	Nakhon Pathom	Pathum Thani	Rayong	Suphan Buri
Chiang Mai	Nakhon Ratchasima	Phatthalung	Sa Kaeo	Surat Thani
Chonburi	Nakhon Sri Thammarat	Phuket	Samut Prakan	Tak
Khon Kaen	Narathiwat	Prachuap Khiri Khan	Samut Sakhon	Trang
Krabi	Nonthaburi	Ranong	Songkhla	Udon Thani