A delegation led by Chen Jiyang, Deputy Minister of Public Relations of Hainan Province and Secretary-General of the Hainan International Film Festival Organising Committee, toured key sites across the island yesterday (Aug 20)
The group included representatives from the Hainan Provincial Film Affairs Department and was hosted by Trithep Thaikuruphan, Chairman of CU Nited Extension Co Ltd.
The delegation inspected Baan Chinpracha and Phuket Old Town, and other tourism attractions, including a tour by boat charter company Phuket Marine Group.
The visit aimed to study how Phuket manages filming locations, supports production crews and integrates tourism with the film industry, explained an official report of the delegation’s visit.
“My visit to Thailand is to discuss and exchange cooperation in the film, drama, series, documentary and animation industries between Thailand and Hainan Province,” Mr Chen said. “We see Phuket as similar to Hainan, and this trip allows us to assess the diversity of locations and facilities for international productions.”
The fact-finding mission, which began on Monday and concludes today (Aug 18-21), included meetings with the Ministry of Culture, MCOT, the Department of Tourism and the Faculty of Communication Arts at Chulalongkorn University.
The delegation also confirmed Hainan’s interest in deepening ties with Thailand through joint projects and highlighted the existing sister-city relationship between Phuket and Hainan.
Their visit comes ahead of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF), set for December in Sanya. The festival, one of China’s four largest, is co-organised by China Media Group (CMG) and the Hainan Provincial Government. First held in 2018, HIIFF features international film competitions, premieres and screenings.
This year’s edition will include a Thai production as part of a special programme celebrating the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.
The visit also comes as Thai officials promote tourism to locations in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi seen in the latest film ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’, and follows the Ministry of Culture earlier this week announcing a B845 million budget to attract foreign film productions to Thailand..