As White Lotus Season 3 airs, interest in Thailand rises

The hype around White Lotus Season 3 could possibly already be having a positive impact on tourism in Thailand as interest in this Southeast Asian country is growing.

It’s no surprise that people are seeking to discover where the show has been filmed, with it looking beautiful in the backdrop of each shot – even despite the drama and mystery that is unfolding with each episode.

According to travel agent Opodo, who has been looking at bookings and searches since the episodes have aired, travel searches for Koh Samui are up 88% compared to the previous year. 

In January, HBO confirmed the third season has been filmed “in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok.”

Searches for Phuket have increased 66% and Bangkok up 61%. The recent spark of interest has translated into bookings too, with Koh Samui up 44% and Bangkok 17% compared to the same dates in the previous year.

While the exact reasoning behind the interest can’t be specifically pinpointed, it is coming at the same time as the popular TV show is airing weekly episodes set in the three areas.

Bookings to Thailand are up at same time as White Lotus Season 3

Within a press release detailing the findings, French travellers made up 37% of all bookings during this period while UK travellers accounted for 4%. While the last percentage doesn’t appear to be high, it marks an 84% increase year on year for that time period.

The study compared bookings and searches made between September 1st 2024 and 11th February 2025 to travel to Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket during the period 17th February – 23rd February 2025, compared with the previous year.

The filming of White Lotus Season 3 is reported to have taken place across different resorts, including the Four Seasons Koh Samui, Anantara Mai Khao Villas, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, and Rosewood Phuket.

Featured Image: My own image (Selfemployedtraveler) from a trip to Thailand