Tourists flock to Red Lotus Lake, drawn by Lisa promotion
Visitor numbers have soared at Udon Thani’s Red Lotus Lake following the release of a promotional video and photos featuring Thai K‑pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal, some queueing for tickets before 5am.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has ordered tighter coordination between service agencies to ensure visitors’ safety.
Since early Saturday, streams of Thai and foreign tourists have been arriving at Ban Diam pier on Talay Bua Daeng (Red Lotus Lake) in Kumphawapi district.
Queues for boat tickets have formed long before dawn, with the office opening at 5am.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Tuesday released a promotional poster of Lisa against a backdrop of the lake, leaving thousands of people eager to recreate the photographs, starring themselves.
The sudden rise in visitor numbers, driven by the global popularity of the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, required immediate action to ensure their safety and standard of service, Natreeya Taweewong, permanent secretary for tourism and sports, told Naewna Online on Sunday.
She said officials had been instructed to closely monitor boat operations, safety equipment, vessel standards and traffic management and to prevent long queues, while ensuring tourists receive fair treatment and transparent pricing.
Agencies under the ministry have been ordered to work together at the lake. The Department of Tourism was tasked with inspecting operators and preventing overcharging, the Tourist Police Bureau told to step up security checks and emergency‑response readiness, and the tourist assistance centre to offer support and information and receive complaints from tourists.
Ms Natreeya said the “Lisa Effect” presented a valuable opportunity to showcase Thailand’s natural attractions, cultural heritage and local communities, particularly in lesser‑known secondary cities, and the ministry aimed to use the momentum to promote positive communication in tandem with maintaining service standards, safety and fairness for visitors.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said many tourists said they were drawn to visit the Red Lotus Lake by the Amazing Thailand x Lisa campaign.
Some said they had not heard of the attraction before, but decided to fly to Udon Thani and hire a van or small boat to recreate the photos featuring the singer, Ms Thapanee told Thairath Online.
About 50,000 tourists had visited the lake since the lotus blooming season began in December, and the majority were foreign travellers. The surge was most noticeable on weekdays, when visitor numbers were typically lower.
Boat operators were now running more than 100 trips per day, Ms Thapanee said. Group tour bookings for February were strong, with many requesting the same style of wooden boat featured in Lisa’s poster.
“The primary 25,000‑rai lotus field is expected to remain in full bloom until mid‑February,” Ms Thapanee said.
“A second 5,000‑rai field at Koh Don Luang will bloom from mid‑February to mid‑March, allowing visitors to continue enjoying the scenery before the hot season begins.”
Source – Bangkok News
