Movies, soaps pump arrivals

TOURISM

Published: 19 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

Thailand has successfully followed South Korea's lead in using the entertainment industry including drama series to promote its tourism industry.

Witwisit Hiranyawongkul (right) will take part in a ‘meet and greet’ event organised by the TAT in Guangzhou next month.

The state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently agreed to support two foreign films, both from China, with planned shooting in Thailand.

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abbub
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Discussion 12 : 19 Jan 2013 at 22.3612
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DAO D5: Yes and no. There is considerable violence against women, portrayed exactly the opposite to how they really are (Women keep the wheels turning in Thailnd)

The men all look like they just came out of a beauty parlor. The women silly, superficial, plotting.

But the division of "good" and "bad" is worse. The bad guys always dark-skinned; slant eyed; stupid; conniving; maids; servants; gangsters etceteras.

The good guys and gals are almost all white, tall, half "farang" types that live in incomprehensible luxury and are inevitably wise and just.

It is shameful racism perpetuating twisted myth.
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HowIWish
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Discussion 11 : 19 Jan 2013 at 21.1611
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I've never witnessed a decent TAT promotion on International networks (satellite of cable) promoting Thailand yet. 2 movies have captured the thailand tourist spots (did any viewer recognise them?), the t.v. dramas would certainly not make 3 million chinese come to Thailand, maybe chinese govt allowing more freedom of movement, and that airline with the caption "Now anyone can fly" maybe the real reason?
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bluebottle
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Discussion 10 : 19 Jan 2013 at 20.3010
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Yes keep peddling the violence that is good for the country's image.I fail to see how that will improve tourism.Who comes up with these crackpot ideas?
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jah
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Discussion 9 : 19 Jan 2013 at 19.419
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Korean male stars are good role models. They serve their country even if they're in show biz with dignity & honor. The women r beautiful & mature. Watch tv pool live and observe the Thai interviews & compare korean women in interviews .

The Korean industry does not promote infidelity, rape, black male, $ murder, cutting corners ESP during prime time.

Koreans value education, religion, & nature.

Watch Arirang & you'll understand why S. Korea is open to the world. It has eng subtitles also.
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abbub
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Discussion 8 : 19 Jan 2013 at 15.358
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I guess they will have to spend a lot of money to make sure all those tourists go only to where they supposed to go and not places like the North or Isan... god forbid if they should see the Thailand not represented in the (possibly worst in the world) sitcoms and travel brochures.
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truegrit
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Discussion 7 : 19 Jan 2013 at 12.347
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All this rubbish about tourists and the numbers are up from last year, yes mostly Asian tourists that do not spend much, not like Europeans, if you had 10 Chinese tourists and only 4 Europeans who would spend more money in Thailand. So the money from tourists has to be lower even if the numbers show more are here. But this government will not tell you this !!
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DonAleman
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Discussion 6 : 19 Jan 2013 at 12.026
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More TAT nonsense. Viewing Korean TV is often entertaining,educational and, when desired, amusing - watching/listening to K-Pop singers/dancers as compared to Thai ;well no comparison and the SK groups are touring the world, by invitation ! "Soaps" on SK most often actually have dialogue and a story with people who know how to act. outh Korea."Following" South Korea may not constitute lying but certainly "bending the truth " and an insult to SK !
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dao
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Discussion 5 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.515
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Maybe this will lead to an improvement in Thai dramas instead of peddling violence against woman and poor behavior all round .
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bkkblue
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Discussion 4 : 19 Jan 2013 at 10.314
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Thai dramas are amongst the worst in the world. Stupid story-lines, terrible acting and a real negative influence on the local population. I have no idea what the Chinese see in them.
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Wally
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Discussion 3 : 19 Jan 2013 at 09.053
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Seems Chinese tourism is still in the early phases of booking through Chinese travel agents into group tours that then utilize Chinese owned buses, hotels, restaurants and gift shops with little leakage. When they start to finally travel as individuals they will spread the spending money around more equally.
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Movies, soaps pump arrivals | Bangkok Post: business