Bangkok - Thailand
Thailand is betting on the power of cinema to attract a new generation of travelers, by transforming famous filming locations into destinations that tourists can visit themselves, within the “Amazing Locations: From View to View” project led by the Thai Tourism Authority, in an attempt to link the film industry directly to the travel and tourism economy.

Ten paths from screen to reality

During its participation in the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival Market, the Authority presented ten selected itineraries for filming locations distributed throughout Thailand, combining landscapes, local culture, communities and tourist experiences. The idea aims to make the cinematic location a starting point for a real journey, instead of remaining just a background for the audience to watch on the screen.

Sites associated with international businesses

Locations include the island of Koh Samui, which was linked to the third season of the “White Lotus” series, and areas in Krabi that have appeared or been associated with international productions such as “The Beach” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” in addition to locations in Chiang Rai, Nan, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Chanthaburi, and Trat.

The place becomes a hero
Nithi Siprai, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Marketing and Communications, said that Thailand’s strength as a filming location is not only related to its natural landscapes or production capabilities, but rather to the character and identity that the culture and local communities give to each place, which helps filmmakers tell deeper stories, while at the same time pushing the audience to discover those locations for themselves.

Cinema is a tool to diversify tourism

The strategy goes beyond traditional promotion, as Thailand wants to attract foreign productions first, then convert the interest generated by films and series into actual tourist demand, thus raising visitor spending and distributing tourist traffic to areas beyond well-known destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

What does it mean to Arab tourists?
For the Arab traveler, these routes open a different way to discover Thailand. Instead of the traditional program based on beaches and shopping only, a trip can be built that follows international business sites, combining nature, cinema, food and local culture in a more diverse and place-related experience. These destinations also provide promising investment opportunities for the Arab investor in the hospitality sector and tourism services related to filming locations, especially in emerging regions that attract new tourist flows away from traditional centers.