'White Lotus': Thailand's Koh Samui sees 12% spike in bookings
What's the story
The popular HBO series The White Lotus has triggered a spike in worldwide interest in Thailand, especially the island of Koh Samui.
Agoda, a leading online travel platform, reported a 12% rise in accommodation searches for the island after the show's season premiere.
Notably, interest from the United States skyrocketed by 65% over last month's average.
Market shift
US entered Koh Samui's top 5 inbound markets
The spike in interest from the US has catapulted it into Koh Samui's top five inbound markets in terms of accommodation searches on Agoda.
The development has seen the US displacing Malaysia in the rankings.
The top international markets looking to travel to Koh Samui are now largely western, including Israel, Germany, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Production insights
'White Lotus' filming locations and cast details
The third season of The White Lotus was shot in several Thai locations, including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan, and Phuket.
The decision came after Thailand's government and tourism authority TAT successfully negotiated with the series' producers.
The star-studded cast includes Patrick Schwarzenegger and Thailand's BLACKPINK megastar, Lalisa Manobal (aka Lisa).
Industry response
Agoda's country director commented on 'White Lotus' impact
Pierre Honne, Country Director of Thailand at Agoda, shared his excitement over the show's impact.
He told media portals: "The third season premiere of The White Lotus has been a highly anticipated event in Thailand as it has across the rest of the world."
"It's thrilling to finally see beloved Thai destinations like Bangkok and Koh Samui as the settings for a global TV sensation. The potential positive effects on Koh Samui and Thailand's tourism are undeniable."
Show highlights
'White Lotus' Season 3 plot and cast experiences
The third season of The White Lotus centers on Michelle Monaghan's vacationing TV actor and Aimee Lou Wood's carefree Brit with an older boyfriend.
Natasha Rothwell reprises her role from the first season as spa manager Belinda. Lisa makes her acting debut as a resort employee this season.
Despite facing challenges while filming, the cast members unanimously agreed that Thailand got more storyline attention than Hawaii or Sicily did in previous seasons.