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February 25, 2025 | 07:39 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Thai government appreciates Lisa Blackpink's performance in the third season of the HBO series 'The White Lotus'. The South Korean girl group Blackpink's member is hailed for seemingly boosting the country's global tourism reputation.
In the third season of the series, Lisa Blackpink, born Pranpriya Manobal in Thailand, portrays a hotel employee. According to The Nation Thailand, her role provides a unique local perspective. Her performance has drawn interest not only from European and American tourists but also from fans across ASEAN countries.
Shot in major tourist destinations such as Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok, the series has had a significant impact on Thai tourism.
Koh Samui Searches Up 88 Percent
The third season of this HBO series has resulted in an 88 percent increase in internet searches for Koh Samui and a 44 percent increase in hotel bookings on the island, according to Thai tourism executives as reported
According to The Thaiger, Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, Vice President of the Thailand Tourism Council, estimates that Koh Samui may not experience a quiet season this year because of the popularity of the series that satirically explores the lives of employees and wealthy guests in an exclusive resort in Thailand.
"Previous seasons filmed in Maui [Hawaii] and Sicily [Italy] saw tourist numbers surge by up to 400% in those locations," Ratchaporn explained, as reported by The Nation.
Since the promotional activities for the new season began, online searches for Koh Samui have surged by 88 percent. The first episode of the eight-episode series premiered on February 17 on the Max streaming service, with subsequent episodes released weekly.
The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui prominently featured as the fictional White Lotus Resort & Spa in the series. Other scenes were filmed at the Anantara Bophut, Anantara Lawana, and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket resorts.
The series not only showcased hotels, but also various famous locations in Thailand, including the Big Buddha Temple in Samui, the Fisherman's Village, and nearby Koh Phangan. These locations are expected to become new tourist attractions for fans of the series.
Increase in British Tourist Interest
According to Opodo, a travel agency founded by a European airline, British tourists showed the greatest interest in Thailand, with a 53 percent year-on-year increase in searches.
During the opening week of the event, people from the UK ranked third globally for searches for destinations in Thailand. Koh Samui experienced an 88 percent increase in searches, while Phuket and Bangkok saw increases of 66 percent and 61 percent, respectively, among UK users.
Accommodation and travel bookings also saw increases. Reservations for Koh Samui increased by 44 percent and for Bangkok by 17 percent.
Ratchaporn noted that the TV show has had a delightful impact on the tourism sector. Agoda reported a 12 percent increase in hotel searches for Koh Samui even before the series aired.
In addition, accommodation searches by US users for the island have increased by 65 percent since January. The top countries searching for Koh Samui on Agoda include Israel, Germany, France, the UK, and the US.
Supported by the Thai Ministry of Tourism
The production of 'The White Lotus' Season 3 was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, which assisted international film productions with a budget of over 50 million baht or around Rp24.2 billion in Thailand.
Aside from 'The White Lotus', several other productions were filmed in Thailand last year, including 'Jurassic World 4' and the TV series Alien, with a combined value exceeding 7 billion baht or around Rp3.4 trillion, said Ratchaporn.
For Thailand Ministry, the exposure of the country's tourism charm in international films is a form of soft power, highlighting its cultural appeal.
THE THAIGER | THE NATION | VN EXPRESS
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