Now that the fictional guests of Season 3 of The White Lotus have officially checked out of their Thai resort, the country is getting ready for the real tourists to arrive.
The series recently finished filming at several resorts and locations in Thailand, and although the show likely won’t air until next year, hotels and tour operators are readying for their own White Lotus boom.
The first two seasons of the show, about the lives of its wealthy guests and the employees of a luxury hotel, were filmed at Four Seasons properties in Maui, Hawaii and the Sicilian town of Taormina. Fans then turned those real-life resorts and cities into must-see destinations, causing an avalanche of visitors.
“We’re waiting for Thailand to go crazy because everyone knows as soon as The White Lotus comes out, you won’t be able to get in,” one tourism company said.
Guests are requesting to book at the properties that Bloomberg first reported were being featured in Season Three: Four Seasons Koh Samui and the Anantara Mai Khao.
Although HBO, the network behind The White Lotus, has kept details of the exact Thailand locales secret, the TAT announced that the shoots featured Bangkok, Phuket and Samui.
According to sources on Samui, scenes on the island were also shot at Taling Ngam Beach — its white sands sit on the edge of a tropical jungle bordered by palm trees, offering the best sunset views on the island.
Scenes were also shot at Fisherman’s Village, a favorite tourist spot known for its lively night market.
Still, Thailand and Samui have some work to do.
The island has 150,000 tonnes of waste that’s been piling up because its incinerator isn’t working properly, and it faces a water shortage, forcing some hotels to buy water from private companies while residents go without.
