Role of key regional platform for content buyers seen for Bangkok Entertainment Week
THE THAILAND Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is considering expanding Bangkok Entertainment Week in the near future as a key regional platform for international content buyers and producers to meet local content creators, including digital-TV broa
The regular Bangkok Entertainment Week – actually two weeks this year – kicks off on April 22.
“As head of Bangkok Entertainment Week, our team is looking for new opportunities from neighbouring countries, which are in the process of developing creative content.
“We are also considering an appropriate and convenient time for this show to attract more international content buyers, film and TV producers, and related professionals,” chairman Weerasak Kowsurat said yesterday.
The TCEB realised the importance of the entertainment industry and digital content in driving the creative economy, so it gathered up four events – Bangkok International Digital Content Festival, Thailand Comic Con, Bangkok Comic Con, and Thailand Toy Expo – into Bangkok Entertainment Week two years ago. It was held again last year.
“The TCEB financially supported those organisers in terms of expenses for meetings and public relations, costing about Bt5 million,” he said.
According to a survey by the bureau, last year’s event created economic impacts that increased gross domestic product by Bt3.08 billion and employment by 20,371 jobs during the 10-day shows and generated tax revenue of Bt868 million. The event also welcomed more than 380,000 visitors.
“This is an important milestone and part of driving all related aspects of economics under the government’s ‘digital economy’ policy,” he said.
Besides the TCEB and the four organisers, six public bodies – the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Information and Communications Technology, Culture and Commerce, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority – also support the events.
The birth of digital terrestrial TV in the country was a key turning point for content creation. To support this growing industry, Bangkok Entertainment Week may extend an opportunity to local TV broadcasters and producers to showcase their products at next year’s event.
Bangkok Entertainment Week 2016 is scheduled throughout the two weeks from April 22 to May 8.
Thailand Comic Con will run from April 22-24 at Siam Paragon, the Bangkok International Digital Content Festival from April 22 to May 1 at Siam Paragon, Bangkok Comic Con from April 29 to May 1 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Bang Na and Thailand Toy Expo from May 5-8 at CentralWorld.
