Lisa Manoban, of BLACKPINK fame, has sparked a surge in both local and international tourists visiting the Red Lotus Field in Udon Thani province, benefiting local businesses, said Phairasit Sukrom, chairman of the Red Lotus Sea Tourist Boat Community Enterprise.
The increase in visitors is attributed to Lisa’s role as an ambassador for the Amazing Thailand campaign, a promotional effort by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to boost tourism in the area, Phairasit added.
Many have described the significant rise in the number of tourists as the ‘Lisa Effect’.
Phairasit emphasised that this trend has brought positive momentum to the country’s tourism industry, enhancing Thailand's image on the international stage.
It also highlighted the appeal of lesser-known tourist attractions in Thailand.
Phairasit said that, during weekends, they have been seeing four times the usual number of boat rides being taken, with 400 trips a day now, compared to 100 before, adding that “There’s a particularly high volume of Japanese tourists arriving early in the morning, around 4am, to catch the sunrise over the lotus flowers."
He expressed gratitude to Lisa and the TAT for promoting the Red Lotus Sea, saying "The response has been overwhelming, with tourists following in Lisa’s footsteps. We invite everyone to visit the Red Lotus Sea, where the flowers are in full bloom across thousands of acres.
This season will last until mid-March, so it’s the perfect time to come and enjoy the beauty of the lotus fields."
The ninety-minute boat trips offer a serene experience of the sea. The community there provides large boats, seating up to six people and priced at 500 baht per person, and smaller boats, for up to two people, priced at 300 baht.
Among the visitors, Nan, an Udon Thani native, explained that, while she had never visited the Red Lotus Sea before, she decided to come today because of the Lisa Effect.
"I brought my mother and father, who just flew in from Poland yesterday," she said. Her father, Robert, expressed his delight, giving a thumbs-up and exclaiming, "Very good!"
Johnny, a tourist from Belgium, said he and two friends from the Netherlands visited Udon Thani.
"The natural beauty here is spectacular, especially the Red Lotus Sea. I’ve been here a few times before, but my friends are here for the first time and they love it," he said.
He added that he does not know much about Lisa, but he was enjoying the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Udon Thani and was particularly fond of the region's food, especially ‘som tam’ (papaya salad).
