Written by on Nov 16, 2011. Posted in On Location

Thailand Film Office reassures productions planning 2012 shoots

The Thailand Film Office reassuring productions that Bangkok and the wider country is still open for business as a filming location, despite the historic floods. There’s still open access to the capital and authorities want to make sure that productions planning a 2012 shoot don’t look elsewhere.

Crucially, Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport is still open. While the smaller Don Meaung Airport has closed, the domestic airlines that are usually based there have transferred their operations to Suvarnabhumi.

We know that many international filmmakers are presently in pre-production for 2012 shoots and we want to assure you that Bangkok will bounce back very quickly from this tragic situation.

Wanasiri Morakul, Thailand Film Office

According to the film office, popular central provinces like Kanchanaburi, Pattaya and Hua Hin have been unaffected by the flood waters, while places in the south like, Krabi, Phuket, Hat Yai, Phang-Nga, Ko Samui, Ko Chang and Sarathani are also open for business.

Wanasiri Morakul is Director of the Thailand Film Office, which is operated through the Department of Tourism: “At present we have about eight or nine productions filming or getting ready to start production. We know that many international filmmakers are presently in pre-production for 2012 shoots and we want to assure you that Bangkok will bounce back very quickly from this tragic situation.

“Please don't count us down and out - we are now and will be in the future open for your filming business. The period during reconstruction in Bangkok will probably see great values on hotel accommodation in the capital city and in the provinces.”

Ms Morakul urges people with concerns to contact the Thailand Film Office directly. Thailand does not offer any formal filming incentives, but does have very competitive production costs that appeal internationally.