“Since the release of season 3 of the drama ‘The White Lotus’ on the 17th of this month, hotel reservations and searches for Kkosamui, a major filming location, have increased sharply,” said Sasikan Watanachan, a deputy spokesman for the Thai government, on the 24th. “The number of U.S. tourists searching for Kkosamui has increased by 65% compared to the previous month,” he added.
On the hotel reservation site Agoda, searches for Kkosamui hotels increased by 12%, and reservations for high-end hotels surged by 40%.
Reservation rates at major hotels in The White Lotus filming locations such as Kkosamui, Bangkok, and Phuket increased by 400 to 500% compared to last year.
The Thai Tourism Authority (TAT) analyzed that “The White Lotus” has a dual effect of attracting British and American tourists while attracting Southeast Asian fans with Lisa’s appearance. Lisa, a member of Black Pink from Thailand, is a national star in Thailand, and this drama is her acting debut.
Thailand, where the tourism industry accounts for about 20% of GDP and jobs, has actively attracted foreign films and dramas. Last year alone, 490 foreign films and dramas were filmed in Thailand, which is estimated to have attracted 6.58 billion baht in investment and created about 29,000 jobs.
Thailand is also set to release new Hollywood masterpiece “Jurassic World” filmed in Krabi, Phuket and Bangkok this year, raising expectations for revitalizing the tourism industry.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
