When Walton Goggins and Parker Posey stepped onto the red carpet stage at the 77th Emmy Awards to present Best Director, they didn’t just hand out a trophy — they sent Thailand a standing ovation. The two stars, fresh from eight months filming The White Lotus Season 3, used their few public words to praise the country’s scenery and cuisine, and the crowd loved it.
Aloha to Thailand — Straight from Hollywood
Goggins, with that casual charm he’s known for, told the audience, “We just spent eight months in Thailand filming The White Lotus Season 3.” Posey followed with a grin, “It’s so beautiful there, and the food is amazing.” Short, sincere, and perfectly timed — their comments drew warm applause and a ripple of excitement that reached well beyond the theater.
That brief moment — a Hollywood stage acknowledging Southeast Asia — is more than just a feel-good headline. It’s the kind of pop-culture shout-out that sends travel searches spiking, hotel bookings bubbling, and destination managers smiling into their morning coffees. For Thailand, already a global tourism staple, being showcased on a hit HBO series like The White Lotus is prime promotional gold.
From Bangkok’s bustle to Koh Samui’s palms
Season 3 of The White Lotus didn’t pick Thailand at random. The production spread its wings across some of the kingdom’s most iconic locations: the urban pulse of Bangkok, the party-and-paradise mix of Phuket, and the sun-drenched serenity of Koh Samui. Each setting added a distinct flavor to the show — neon-lit streets, tropical coastlines, ornate temples — and offered global audiences a cinematic passport to Thailand’s diverse landscapes.
Filming in such varied locales also meant a blend of international and local talent. The cast included global names and homegrown stars, a mix that not only enriches the storytelling but also amplifies Thailand’s talent pool on the world stage.
Star power: BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Thai luminaries
One of the season’s most-watched casting choices was Lalisa Manoban — better known to millions as Lisa from BLACKPINK. Her presence drew extra international attention and brought K-pop and Thai talent into a single cultural spotlight. Alongside Lisa, the series featured celebrated Thai actors like Praya Lundberg, Dom Hetrakul, Lek Pattravadi, Tem Methee, and even veteran journalist Suthichai Yoon, lending local authenticity to the show’s narrative.
That blend of faces — international stars working with respected Thai names — is a win-win. It introduces local performers to global viewers while inviting fans of the franchise to explore the real places behind the stories. For Thai actors, this kind of exposure can be career-defining. For viewers, it’s a curious, delightful mix of accents, customs, and culinary cameos.
Why this matters: tourism, pride, and the global lens
The Emmys moment didn’t just generate feels; it generated tangible buzz. Clips of Goggins and Posey’s remarks were shared widely online, lighting up social feeds and Thai news outlets alike. People praised the shout-out as a moment of national pride. Travel influencers and entertainment columnists took note. Local tourism boards, which have been actively courting international productions, finally had a prime-time reason to celebrate.
Thailand has long marketed itself as an attractive filming destination, thanks to its varied scenery, experienced crews, and warm hospitality. But The White Lotus — with its established global fanbase and HBO’s production clout — is one of the highest-profile showcases the country has enjoyed in recent memory. The optics are clear: when Hollywood chooses Thailand, the world looks.
Beyond the applause: what’s next?
Expect a ripple effect. Film-induced tourism typically brings a new wave of visitors chasing scenic spots and hoping to live out a little piece of the drama they watched on screen. Coupled with Thai initiatives to improve connectivity — from possible new seaplane routes to boosted local infrastructure — the country is well-positioned to welcome curious travelers eager to sample the beauty and, of course, the food that left Parker Posey smiling.
At its heart, the Emmy moment was refreshingly simple: two actors thanking the place that hosted their work. But in a world where pop culture and travel habits intersect, those two sentences can turn into a passport stamp, a trending hashtag, and perhaps the next must-visit itinerary. Whether you’re in it for the beaches, the bustling city life, the temples, or the curry, The White Lotus’ Thailand season has likely added a few more names to the list of places to see before you die.
So here’s to Thailand — applauded on the world’s biggest TV night, celebrated for its scenery and its cuisine, and now starring in more than just a show: a travel story millions might soon be living, one plane ticket at a time.
This feels like another Hollywood postcard — pretty shots, tasty food, and then tourists trampling local life. The Emmys clap is nice, but is this publicity actually sustainable or just a short-term cash grab for the tourism board?
Sustainability aside, these productions bring jobs and infrastructure money; but the benefits often leak to big businesses, not everyday locals.
Economically there’s evidence both ways: film-induced tourism can boost GDP and create employment but also raises prices and strains resources without careful policy. Thailand’s challenge will be managing carrying capacity and ensuring revenue reaches communities.
Totally agree — policies matter. My worry is that the shiny depiction sells a myth and the government won’t enforce limits until it’s too late.
As someone with family in Samui, I can say filming brought real work for local crews and vendors, not just big hotels.
Great for Thailand — exposure like this could revive small businesses after the pandemic. Fans will want to try real Thai food and see the places for themselves.
Exactly. The White Lotus used local talent and locations, which sends income to communities and highlights Thai culture beyond beach clichés.
And Lisa being in it? Millions of K-pop fans will be booking flights. That’s cultural soft power right there.
I just hope people travel respectfully. There’s nothing worse than tourists treating temples and neighborhoods like props.
Respect is key, but some people think ‘respect’ means less revenue — balance is hard to find.
Filming eight months in a country is a big footprint. Where do they shop, how do crews live, and what happens to waste? The ecology side is usually ignored.
Totally — increased flights, resort builds, and new seaplane routes mean more carbon and coastal development that can harm mangroves and coral.
Exactly. Hollywood glamorizes landscapes while engineers and local ecosystems pay the price.
Unless productions implement green standards and local regulations are strict, we risk turning paradise into a theme park.
I love the idea of Thai artists getting global visibility, but is Lisa being used as a gimmick to sell the show to international audiences?
Casting global idols like Lisa can be both strategic and meaningful; it depends on narrative agency — does her character have depth or is she just a cameo for clicks?
Good point. If the show treats Thai characters with nuance, it’s progress. If not, it’s tokenism with fancy postcards.
This is an interesting case study for cultural economics: a major U.S. series using Thai locations and actors creates cross-border cultural flows and potential long-term tourism multipliers.
So what’s the multiplier in practice? More tourists spending on resorts or on local markets? The distribution matters.
It means more shops for souvenirs and maybe ice cream! I want to see the beaches.
Multipliers can benefit different sectors; policy can steer spending toward community tourism, but it’s rarely automatic.
Looks so pretty! I want to go eat curry and take photos of the temples. Movies make me want to travel.
Put simply: more tourists equals more pressure on fragile coastlines. Thailand must avoid overdevelopment like in other resort towns.
Local authorities are aware and some islands already have visitor caps for parts of the year; enforcement is the tricky part.
Caps are fine if they are enforced and coupled with investment in sewage, waste management, and marine protection.
Enforcement often loses to short-term political gains; tourists bring money fast and politicians love headlines.
I’m proud to see Thai actors like Praya and Dom get recognition. If handled right, this can open doors for Thai creatives in global productions.
As an artist, collaboration matters. But we must ensure fair contracts and credit for local cast and crews.
Yes, transparency in hiring and payment matters as much as onscreen visibility.
Two actors saying ‘great food’ on the Emmys doesn’t suddenly solve economic inequality. This is PR theatre.
It is PR, but PR can shift perceptions. The question is whether perception leads to meaningful engagement or just vacation bookings.
Mostly bookings. Most viewers won’t read policy analyses; they’ll look for the beach resort that looks like the show.
Lisa in The White Lotus is the best thing to happen to both Thailand and K-pop crossover. Representation matters and fans will travel to support her.
Seeing a veteran journalist like Suthichai Yoon in the cast is a nod to Thai public life — that kind of insider casting can add authenticity and spark national pride.
Expect an immediate spike in Google searches and travel bookings to Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui. Marketers will have their field day.
Hope local cuisine is portrayed authentically and not just ‘exotic flavor’ background for Western plotlines.
I’m torn — I want to see the places I love get attention, but history shows tourism booms often lead to cultural dilution and higher costs for locals.
If productions hire ethical local fixers and pay fair location fees, communities can negotiate benefits instead of being overwhelmed.
Pop culture tourism is powerful — but it’s a momentum we must direct. Could Thailand partner with NGOs to create sustainable itineraries?
Sometimes I think fans don’t care about sustainability until a viral image goes wrong. Crisis drives change, not applause.
The White Lotus spotlight could fund conservation if stakeholders choose to allocate tourist taxes or film fees to environmental projects.
Criticize Hollywood all you want, but global productions can upskill local crews — camera ops, set design, catering — that stays long after filming ends.
Media moments like this also shift soft power. Thailand benefits culturally when its people, cuisine, and spaces are part of global narratives.
Been to Phuket in the ’80s and now — the change is dramatic. If managed well, change can be positive; if not, it’s regret.
Fans will copy Instagram routes, and then the ‘authentic’ spots become curated experiences with higher prices. That cycle sucks.
This thread has a good mix of hope and skepticism. My bottom line: demand transparency from producers about local payments and environmental plans.
Small correction: I’m Larry Davis upthread, but calling for transparency is sensible — producers should publish impact statements before and after shoots.
Agree with Larry — public impact statements and local stakeholder meetings should be standard practice for big shoots.
Policy idea: implement a tourist tax ring-fenced for conservation and community development and require productions to contribute to a local fund.
I hope they save turtles and not just make more hotels. Turtles are cute.