Thailand saw an increase in tourism thanks to The White Lotus season 3
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Travel bookings to the country rose by 300%, and general online searches for Thailand increased by 88% after the series aired
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The next season of The White Lotus will take place in France
The White Lotus'season 3helped boost Thailand's tourism.
In the latest iteration of the popular HBO show, creatorMike Whitefilmed at the Four Seasons Resort in Ko Samui, as well as in Bangkok and Phuket — bringing new jobs and increased interest to the country.
Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, director-general of Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), toldVarietyduring the Cannes Film Market thatThe White Lotusbrought in $36.5 million in local production spending and employed approximately 1,000 local crew members.
The outlet reported that Thailand travel bookings rose by 300%, and general online searches for the country increased by 88% after the series aired.
“This is the right direction that the government has decided to support,” Kangvalkulkij said.
Thailand offers a 30% cash rebate for international productions. Kangvalkulkij said there was no spending cap or requirement to use Thai content.
Thailand's government has also provided around $6.7 million to assist 86 local productions.
“We work really closely between the Thai filming and entertainment industry and also the Thai government agency,” Kangvalkulkij said. “It's not just the Ministry of Commerce.”
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Other recent projects filmed in Thailand includeJurassic World RebirthandAlien: Earth. According toVariety, between January and March this year, 162 international movies were filmed in the country.
White's producing partner, David Bernad, previously told PEOPLE, "We didn't know much about Thailand. I had been there once before, but when we boiled down countries that worked weather-wise, had a tax rebate, that were film friendly, and really, it was just only Thailand in that region."
"So, we were like, 'Oh, we'll go to Thailand first, and we'll go on to Japan," he continued.
As for the next season ofThe White Lotus, thr series is currently filming in the South of France, using the Cannes Film Festival as a backdrop.
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Season 4 will starLaura Dern,Steve Coogan,Caleb Jonte Edwards,Alexander Ludwig,Chris Messina,AJ Michalka,Max Greenfield,Kumail Nanjiani,Chloe Bennet,Charlie Hall,Jarrad PaulandMarissa Longso far.
The White Lotusis expected to return in 2027.
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