Thailand has welcomed 71 foreign film productions this year, generating over 3 billion baht for the country, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Tuesday.
The films were shot in 29 provinces between January and October and generated 3.4 billion baht, she said citing figures provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Bangkok was the most popular location for filming with 35 productions, followed by Phuket (10), Samut Prakan (8), Pathum Thani (6), Phangnga (5) and three each in Lampang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Rai.
The top five countries contributing the most income were the United States at 2.5 billion baht, Hong Kong (286 million baht), Singapore (228 million baht), France (120 million baht) and China (85 million baht).
Meanwhile, Thanusak Phuengdet, president of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, said the Phuket Sandbox Scheme has helped prepare the provincial tourism sector for the high season.
He thanked the local government and private sector for pushing to get residents vaccinated.
Despite the rainy season, over 50,000 foreign travellers, including Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, have visited the province since July. They have booked rooms not only in hotels but also in hostels, he said.
With the success of the sandbox scheme, other business operators are about to restart activities for the coming high season, he added.
As of Monday, 51,068 visitors had made their way to the province since the scheme began, according to local authorities.
Crowe's tweets about his positive experience in Thailand were warmly welcomed. He was filming a Vietnam War-era movie called The Greatest Beer Run Ever.