Are Romanians influenced by the series “The White Lotus” to go to Thailand? Rather by the “Island of Love” – ​​say travel agents

The third season of the well -known series on Max, “The White Lotus”, which is filmed in Thailand, has generated a huge increase in accommodation and tour packages, at the Asian holiday destination. Were the Romanians “hit” by this phenomenon? The people in the tourism, with which Hotnews spoke, say that “there is no trend in Romania for travelers related to movies.” And yet what could Romanians expect to go to Thailand on vacation this year?

The series “The White Lotus” was launched in July 2021. The black comedy created by Mike White arrived in the hearts of the fans not only for the captivating intrigue, but also due to the chosen locations. The first two seasons, filmed in Lux Four Seasons resorts, both in Hawaii and Sicily, have led to an incredible contribution of tourists in those areas. For example, the first season caused a 386% increase in availability checks at the Four Seasons Maui in Wailea, and at the end of the previous season, after broadcasting episodes at Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, online searches for destinations in Italy increased by over 50%.

The same phenomenon is now expected in Thailand, where the filming for season three have taken place at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and Anntara Mai Khao Villas Phuket, operated by Minor Hotels.

Hotel reservations in Koh Samui increased by 44%. Same the prices

Thailand has always been a suitable destination for spectacular landscapes and beaches with azure waters. In 2024, the tourism authority of Thailand announced that over 35 million tourists arrived in the Asian country, which has generated revenues of almost 50 billion euros. For 2025, the country aims to attract between 36 and 39 million visitors and generate revenues of over 100 billion euros, while strengthening its position as a top tourist destination.

Most of this flow is also generated by the fact that in the summer of 2024, the Thai government has raised visas for 93 countries (including Romania), and visitors can spend up to 60 days.

The third season of “White Lotus” has contributed significantly to the created hype, especially on the island of Koh Samui. The new episodes caused an 88% increase in online searches for Koh Samui and a 44% increase in hotel reservations on the second largest island of Thailand.

Episode 8, and the last, from season three of the series “White Lotus” is available in Romania Monday morning, on Max.

The local press writes that in 2024 Koh Samui had a 75%occupancy rate, which was completely changed in 2025. In the first two weeks since the launch of the new season of “White Lotus”, the rates increased by 40%, with prices that can exceed 250 euros per night.

Industry people compared the trend with the wave of Chinese tourists from 2013 in Chiang Mai, after the release of the movie “Lost in Thailand” in December 2012, filmed in that region. However, they add, the tourist markets in Chiang Mai and Koh Samui have distinct features. While Chiang can handle a large number of tourists, Koh Samui's capacity is limited by the availability of flights and his airport, operated by Bangkok Airways, which makes the destination mainly oriented to the luxury market.

Moreover, as the attention of National Geographic draws attention, although Koh Samui looks spectacular in the series, in fact the island's infrastructure is already overloaded by tourism, according to the Environment Institute in Thailand, a non-profit organization focused on sustainable development. Currently, there are 200,000 tons of waste on the island, most of them from disposable plastic. Although the government transports 60 tons of waste outside the island daily, this effort cannot keep up with the 180-200 tonnes generated daily.

Under this conditions, we were curious to find out if the influence of the series was felt among the Romanians.

“It is a rather expensive island, plus they have a lot of problems with drinking water.”

Eduard Șerbănoiu, known as “Thai”, is a young man who has been a marketing specialist for over 15 years, and who, in the last four years, is in charge of organizing two -week holidays in Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang MAI and Phuket).

Eduard Șerbănoiu acknowledges that several Romanians told him that he was just waiting to visit the country with him, after seeing the series. However, the entrepreneur says he has not necessarily noted a big increase in the number of those who want a vacation exactly on Koh Samui, the island of “The White Lotus”.

“I was on the island and I even thought about organizing a Thailand 2.0 here, for those who want different experiences, but I gave up looking at it as an option. It is a fairly commercial and expensive island, plus they have many problems with drinking water,” he says. Thai wants to provide people with authentic experiences, which include many interactions with locals.

The entrepreneur says that Thailand offers tourists variant for all pockets, especially if you know how to orient yourself in the area and be careful what you choose. Even in Koh Samui or Phuket, mainstream places, you can find wallets friendly. For those who want to avoid crowds, he brings places like Koh Chang or Pattaya, which he also takes into account for a future group trip. Eduard recommends those who wish to do rigorous documentation before reaching Thailand, especially on their own.

Eduard advises people to choose the agency with whom they want to make a holiday here and take into account everything that involves such an experience.

“There is no trend in Romania for travelers related to movies”

Răzvan Pascu, an entrepreneur in tourism, noted that the Four Seasons and Resorts properties in Thailand have registered a significant increase, and the January reservations increased by 68% as a result of The White Lotus series.

“Some top hotel brands, such as Mandarin Oriental and Marriott International, increase over 1,000 percent sales, with average daily tariffs close to $ 2,000.

Tourists spend for a luxury trip of 8 to 10 days – for a family of four people – on average $ 50,000 in the peak season and between $ 30,000 and $ 40,000 for 4 -star/5 -star properties. Among the top hotels that tourists book in Thailand are The Siam Hotel, Capella Bangkok, The Peninsula Bangkok, Four Seasons, Banyan Tree, Six Senses Koh Samui and Rosewood Phuket, with prices of over 1,000 person per day. “

As for Romanians, Pascu told Hotnews that their interest in Thailand has decreased, at the same time with the increase of prices here, compared to other Asian destinations:

“Such a series (no – White Lotus) can have surprising effects for tourism, and I see every year when I go to New Zealand, where” Lord of the Rings “or” Hobbit “have set the destination on the world travel map. In Romania I do not think that there is a trend for such trips, which are related to movies or serials, even famous, and if there are some reservations, they are sporadic. However, worldwide, there is really such interest, especially from American or Australian tourists, ”he says.

An agency in Romania has made special circuits for lovers “The White Lotus”

Ioana Burcea, Head of Business Innovation within the “Paralela 45” agency, knows that “The White Lotus” has generated a great interest at the world. As for the Romanians, the expert confesses that the agency has come to meet the phenomenon created by the series, which is why he created a few key circuits, either only on Thailand, or composed of other interesting destinations in the area, such as:

“The requests on Thailand are rather increasing with the appearance of a new season on the island of love”

Andreea Zodie, the founder of Bye Travel Agency, who also organizes holidays in Thailand, says: “In terms of increasing the popularity of Koh Samui, related to a new season of” White Lotus “, it cannot be said that there is any correlation with the interest of Romanians for this destination. Yes, worldwide, the series has had an impact on tourists, but at local level, the requests for Thailand increase with the emergence of a new season on the island of Love (no- the 2025 season of the show is filmed in Thailand). ”

At the cost level, adds the entrepreneur, does not believe that global trends have currently influenced those in Romania, especially since directing and direct flights departing from Henri Coandă to several airports from exotic destinations in SE.

As for alternatives to Koh Samui, Andreea considers Krabi. “It has countless beautiful, less crowded beaches, but also the island of Koh Lanta. If we talk about similar destinations as facilities, landscapes and distance from Romania, I remember Phu Quoc in Vietnam or near Malaysia,” she adds.

“Thailand has over 1000 islands, where people can choose”

The “White Lotus” series has really become a worldwide phenomenon, and this is reflected in the number of those arriving in Thailand. Especially the number of tourists “Luxury” has increased quite a lot in Samui (where hotel or flight rates increased) and Bangkok or Phuket.

Samui has grown as a destination and due to the fact that tourists coming for the second or third time here want to explore other areas, less crowded. The number of Romanians who arrive in Thailand has increased in recent years, but in fact the interest in Asia, in general, seems to be increasing, ”says Madalina Nan, PR & Marketing Assistant Tourism Authority of Thailand, Balkans Office.

She points out that Thailand has over 1000 islands from which people can choose and recommend to those who necessarily reach Bangkok, to travel to the north, in the province and the city of Chiang MAI, because they are very bidding destinations at the level of activities, visits and nature.

“As a beach areas, it depends a lot on the preferences and budget of each. North of Phuket are the Khao Lak beaches, a very beautiful, easily accessible area and with good hotels. In the Gulf of Thailand, near the border with Cambodia, there are a few beautiful islands, and the largest of them, Koh Chang, is a good point, and is a good point, Very fine atmosphere ”, concludes the expert.