Foreign Film Productions Bring 4 Billion Baht to Thailand in First Half 2025
Foreign film productions invested 4 billion baht in Thailand during the first half of 2025, with 302 projects boosting the country's position as a Southeast Asian production hub amid strong demand from streaming platforms.
Thailand's Director-General of Tourism Chatturong Phakdeevanich announced that 302 foreign film productions brought 4.025 billion baht in investment to the country during the first half of 2025, reflecting global producers' continued confidence in Thailand as a key production hub in Southeast Asia.
The figure exceeds half of the 7 billion baht generated throughout 2024, when Thailand set an all-time record for foreign film investment. The Tourism Department estimates that, given the strong first-half trends and major productions scheduled for the second half, Thailand could break its own record again in 2025.
Phakdeevanich attributed Thailand's appeal to its diverse filming locations, quality Thai workforce, internationally standardized service systems, and government incentives including the Thailand Film Incentive Measures, which offer up to 30% cash rebates to foreign productions.
"Thailand no longer competes merely on scenic beauty," he said. "We now offer a complete system—professional teams, film companies, studios, equipment, hotels, transportation, and government support. These are the factors that convince international producers to choose Thailand."
Global streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, are driving significant growth in Thailand's film and content industry through continuous investment in Thai-related productions, creating employment and circulating funds throughout the economy.
The Tourism Department identified a promising new trend: the rapid growth of "vertical drama" or short-form vertical content, gaining popularity particularly in China and Asian markets. This format has attracted more content producers to film in Thailand.
The department is confident that Thailand's growing role in global content production, combined with the government's film promotion policies, will position the country as a regional hub for international film and content production, generating sustained revenue, employment, and economic value.
