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White Lotus Season 3 Sparks Thailand Tourism Boom, Hotel Bookings Surge

'The White Lotus' Season 3, set in Thailand, is anticipated to drive tourism, similar to previous seasons. Luxury hotels and travel agencies are already experiencing increased demand. The show's cast includes Blackpink’s Lisa, further boosting regional interest.

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White Lotus Season 3 Sparks Thailand Tourism Boom, Hotel Bookings Surge

It is HBO’s Emmy-winning series The White Lotus, which by artfully mixing sharp social satire with breathtaking locales has become a cultural phenomenon. Since its release in 2021, it has been a trendsetter for traveling. Wherever it was filmed, that location became the talk of the town. For instance, the first season, where the Four Seasons in Hawaii was used as a location, boosted the luxury travels to the islands. In the second season, which featured Sicily, that Italian city was a destination not to be missed.

And now, with The White Lotus set to enter its third season, Thailand is readying itself for a probable influx of people. The show will air on February 16, and instead of being shot at one single resort, the new season was filmed across various locations in Thailand, thereby widening the ripples in their economies.

White Lotus Season 3

White Lotus Season 3

I believe there was more than a 20 per cent increase in visitors in Hawaii and Sicily, based on Seasons 1 and 2,” Bangkok Post quoted Chompu Marusachot, director of the Thailand Tourism Authority’s (TAT) New York office, as saying. “I can only hope that the momentum will be the same from Thailand.

The Four Seasons Koh Samui and other hotels already featured in the show have seen an uptick in interest, with rates going above $1,200 per night, even during monsoon season. It’s a change that is felt even by luxury travel agencies. “I just had a new client couple come to me and say, ‘We heard White Lotus is set in Thailand next season.”. Can you get us at the same resort before it gets too popular?'” Rabia Malik, a travel adviser at Fora, asked.

“I planned their entire trip around the Four Seasons Koh Samui, and they’re so excited to be heading there in a few weeks,

Fora reports that Thailand bookings for January 2025 are up 312% compared with the same period in 2024, consistent with previous seasons.Thailand welcomed some 35.5 million tourists in 2024, but only 28.2 million came to the country in 2023 and still lower than almost 40 million tourists in 2019 before the pandemic, based on the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Most of the target audience come from the United States, which has viewers highly interested in the series. Despite having no direct flights coming from the United States into Thailand, demand for tickets does exist, Bangkok Post reported recently. According to Anantara, one of Thailand’s luxury hotel brands, The White Lotus is “a golden opportunity” to enter the American market.

Many of the target viewers hail from the United States, a country whose viewers are highly interested in the show. Despite having no direct flights coming from the United States into Thailand, demand for tickets does exist, Bangkok Post reported recently. According to Anantara, one of Thailand’s luxury hotel brands, The White Lotus is “a golden opportunity” to enter the American market.”We see the show as a huge opportunity,” said an Anantara representative. The brand, which has recently launched nine new locations in Europe, is optimistic about the exposure.

Several of its properties, including the Mai Khao Phuket resort and three Koh Samui locations, served as filming spots for Season 3. Anantara executives predict a 20 per cent increase in bookings, aligning with tourism authority projections.

To the hype, a high-profile cast has been lined up for the upcoming season, which includes Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell, and Blackpink’s Lisa, or Lalisa Manobal. Lisa’s involvement is said to have a very strong impact on regional tourism. “Her connection to Thailand has heightened interest in the series,” Marusachot said. “The buzz around White Lotus in Thailand is very real because of Lisa.