Thailand is using the power of cinema to promote a new generation of must-visit Thailand destinations. Through its Amazing Location Thailand the Story Continues: From Scene to Scenic Journeys initiative, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is linking famous film and television locations with real-world travel experiences.
The strategy builds on Thailand’s long history as a filming destination. It also responds to the growing interest in “set-jetting” travelling to places seen in films and television series.
Rather than promoting only the best-known beaches and cities, TAT wants screen exposure to encourage visitors to explore regional and secondary destinations as well.
For travellers, that means a film-inspired holiday does not have to stop at taking a photograph in front of a recognisable view. The more interesting opportunity is to use a production as a starting point for exploring the landscapes, communities, food and activities around it.
What is TAT’s film tourism campaign?
TAT presented its film tourism direction internationally at Amazing Thai Night in Cannes on 14 May 2026.
The event formed part of the wider Amazing Location Thailand the Story Continues campaign, which is intended to support Thailand’s position as a global filming destination while turning screen locations into visitor journeys.
Krabi has been selected as an early showcase and pilot destination. The province combines limestone cliffs, beaches, islands, mangroves, waterfalls and cultural attractions, giving filmmakers a broad range of landscapes within one southern region.
TAT has linked Krabi’s film credentials with nature travel, wellness, gastronomy, sustainability and local economic benefits. Read the TAT announcement.
A separate TAT partnership with Major Cineplex, launched on 22 July 2026, is focusing on Thai films. The campaign encourages people to visit filming locations in both major and secondary cities, share photographs and write about their impressions.
Featured examples include Suphan Buri, associated with In the Name of Love, and Kanchanaburi, associated with Tee Yod.
The promotional activity is running in three rounds. The final submission period is scheduled from 3 to 20 September 2026, while the second round is open until 26 August 2026.
Travellers should check the official campaign pages before taking part because dates, eligibility and prizes may change. See the campaign details on Thailand.go.th.
Thailand film locations worth adding to your itinerary
Krabi: Jurassic World landscapes and dramatic limestone coastlines
Krabi is one of the strongest choices for a film-inspired Thailand trip. Its scenery featured in Jurassic World: Rebirth, alongside locations in Phang Nga and Trang.
The production used southern Thailand’s cliffs, jungle, waterfalls and beaches as the visual foundation for its prehistoric world.
Visitors cannot expect to find dinosaurs or a themed attraction at the filming sites, but the real landscapes are compelling in their own right.
Railay is known for its imposing limestone scenery and beaches, while the wider province offers island trips, coastal viewpoints, jungle excursions and access to areas around Ao Nang and Krabi Town.
The practical drawback is that Krabi’s most recognisable places can be busy in the high season. A film-location itinerary works better if you allow time beyond a single boat trip and include less-visited mainland attractions.
TAT’s own film tourism material presents Krabi as a place where cinematic scenery can be combined with wider nature and cultural experiences. Read more about the Jurassic World: Rebirth event.
Phang Nga Bay: from James Bond to Jurassic World
Phang Nga Bay has been appearing on screens for decades. Khao Phing Kan, widely known as James Bond Island, became internationally recognisable after appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun.
More recently, the bay’s emerald water and limestone formations helped provide the setting for Jurassic World: Rebirth.
James Bond Island can be added to many guided boat excursions from the Phang Nga or Phuket side, but it is not necessarily the best place to spend an entire day.
Excursions can feel rushed, and the viewpoint is often crowded. Consider choosing a tour that also includes sea caves, mangrove scenery or a quieter island stop rather than treating the famous rock as the only objective.
Samet Nangshe offers a different way to experience the same broad landscape: an elevated view across Phang Nga Bay rather than a close-up boat-level perspective.
Sunrise and weather conditions matter, so visitors should keep expectations realistic if clouds obscure the panorama.
Trang and Ko Kradan: the quieter beach setting
Ko Kradan in Trang province was among the southern locations used for Jurassic World: Rebirth. Its white sand and clear water helped create the impression of a remote island sanctuary, while the island’s lack of roads contributes to its more natural, slower-paced character.
Ko Kradan is a better fit for travellers who want a beach-focused escape than for visitors looking for nightlife or extensive facilities.
Boat access and seasonal conditions need checking before travel, particularly outside the main dry-season period. The island is reached by boat services operating from the Trang area, including Pak Meng Pier.
Combining it with Trang’s other coastal destinations can make the journey more worthwhile than travelling there solely to recreate a film scene. See TAT’s overview of the filming sites.
Bangkok: cinematic city energy beyond the temples
Bangkok has long served as a filming location because it can represent several different worlds: historic riverside neighbourhoods, modern shopping districts, busy streets and high-rise cityscapes.
TAT’s film tourism messaging identifies the capital as one of Thailand’s most frequently used filming environments.
For visitors, the appeal is not one single film site but the contrast between locations. A film-inspired day might combine the Chao Phraya riverfront, old-town architecture, markets and modern Bangkok.
Wat Arun remains one of the city’s most recognisable visual landmarks, while Thai productions have also used neighbourhood settings away from the main tourist circuit.
Bangkok is also the most practical base for travellers who want film tourism without a complicated domestic itinerary. If you are planning a first visit, our 10 Days in Thailand Bangkok and Phuket itinerary shows how to combine the capital with southern beaches.
Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri: encouraging travel beyond the usual route
The Major Cineplex partnership is notable because it highlights Thai films and locations outside the country’s most familiar international tourism circuit.
Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri are examples of destinations that can benefit when audiences recognise a landscape, town or cultural setting from a story.
Kanchanaburi is already known for its wartime history, rivers and natural attractions, but a film-led visit can encourage travellers to look beyond the best-known memorial sites.
Suphan Buri offers another reason to travel west of Bangkok and may suit visitors interested in local culture and slower-paced provincial journeys.
The important point is that the campaign is not presenting every location as a polished theme-park attraction. It is using cinema to start a conversation about places that may otherwise be overlooked by international visitors. Read the government campaign summary.
Thailand’s film tourism story goes beyond one campaign
TAT’s current activity follows earlier screen successes. Thailand has featured in internationally recognised productions including The Beach, the James Bond films, Fast & Furious 9, The Hangover Part II and The White Lotus. The filming of Jurassic World: Rebirth in Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang has given the southern landscape another major global showcase.
TAT has also promoted filmed-in-Thailand productions such as The Challenge Season 42, filmed in Bangkok, Pattaya and Chon Buri, as part of its effort to connect international entertainment audiences with Thai destinations.
The season premiered on Paramount+ on 5 August 2026. Read TAT’s announcement about The Challenge.
However, screen exposure does not automatically make a location easy to visit. Some scenes are filmed on private land, in protected areas or in places that are only accessible with local transport and a guide.
A film may also combine several provinces or use visual effects, meaning the location seen on screen may not be a single real-world attraction.
How to plan a film-location trip in Thailand
- Use the film as an itinerary theme, not the entire itinerary. Pair famous locations with nearby markets, temples, food experiences and nature attractions.
- Check access before travelling. National parks, islands, waterfalls and viewpoints may have seasonal closures, weather-related restrictions or changing boat arrangements.
- Allow more time than the film suggests. A short screen sequence may involve a long journey between provinces.
- Plan transfers realistically. Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang can be combined, but doing so may involve overland journeys, changing accommodation and separate boat connections rather than one simple transport route.
- Travel responsibly. Follow local rules, avoid climbing on fragile formations and do not disturb residents while searching for a filming spot.
- Expect crowds at famous locations. James Bond Island and major viewpoints are popular independently of any campaign.
- Consider secondary destinations. The strongest value of TAT’s approach may be encouraging travellers to spend time and money in places beyond Bangkok, Phuket and the most famous islands.
Connectivity is also worth planning if you are moving between several provinces and using maps, translation tools or booking apps. Our Saily eSIM Thailand review looks at one option for staying connected, although travellers should compare current coverage, prices and device compatibility before buying.
Are these now must-visit Thailand destinations?
For film fans, locations such as Krabi, Phang Nga and Ko Kradan are obvious additions to a set-jetting list. For everyone else, the campaign is a useful reminder that Thailand’s appeal is not limited to the locations already familiar from holiday brochures.
The best film-inspired trips combine recognition with practicality. Visit the famous viewpoint, but stay long enough to understand the surrounding area.
Follow the production trail, but leave room for places that were never on screen. That approach is more likely to create a rewarding Thailand holiday than simply chasing a single frame from a film.
TAT’s message is clear: cinema can turn scenery into curiosity, but responsible travel turns curiosity into a meaningful destination experience.
As Thailand continues promoting its film infrastructure and regional locations, more of the country may find a place on international travellers’ must-visit lists.
Further Thailand travel planning
- 10 Best Beaches in Koh Kood for a quieter island alternative.
- Koh Samet: What You Need to Know Before You Go for an easier beach escape from Bangkok.
- South Pattaya Road if your film and television interests take you towards Thailand’s eastern seaboard.
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Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, The Islands, Travel Tips
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Editorial note: This is a researched guide based on Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai government campaign information, together with practical destination context. It is not a first-hand account of visiting every filming location.
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