UDON THANI, THAILAND – A promotional appearance by K‑pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal rapidly turned the Thale Bua Daeng lotus lake into an international magnet for visitors, forcing authorities to rush in extra safety measures.
Pre-dawn queues after K-pop promotion
Before sunrise, long lines formed for boat tickets at the Ban Diam pier in Kumphawapi district as continuous streams of Thai and foreign tourists arrived. Ticket counters opened at 5 a.m., yet many visitors had queued even earlier to reach the pink water lilies in time. The rush followed a campaign by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which released a promotional poster on Tuesday showing Lisa Manobal against the backdrop of the lake, inspiring thousands of fans and travellers to recreate the scene with their own photos.
Ministry orders tighter safety and service standards
Natreeya Taweewong, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, described a sudden jump in visitor numbers driven by the global popularity of the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, which required immediate action.
“The sudden increase in visitor numbers made urgent measures necessary to ensure safety and service standards,”
said Natreeya Taweewong, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. She said authorities had been instructed to closely monitor boat operations, check safety equipment and vessel standards, improve traffic management around the lake, avoid long queues, and ensure fair treatment and transparent pricing.
Tourist police, inspections and complaint channels
Agencies under the ministry were told to work closely together on site. The tourism authority was tasked with inspecting operators and preventing inflated prices, while the Tourist Police Bureau was to step up security checks and raise readiness for emergencies. The Tourist Assistance Centre was made responsible for providing support and information and for receiving complaints from visitors.
‘Lisa effect’ seen as chance for lesser-known destinations
Natreeya said the so‑called “Lisa effect” was a valuable opportunity to highlight nature, cultural heritage and local communities in lesser‑known secondary cities. The ministry’s strategy was to harness this momentum while maintaining stable standards of service, safety and fairness.
50,000 visitors since December and boats in constant use
According to TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, many tourists said they had travelled specifically to Thale Bua Daeng because of the Amazing Thailand x Lisa campaign.
“Some said they had not known the attraction before, but then booked a flight to Udon Thani and rented a van or a boat to recreate the singer’s photos,”
said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, according to Thairath Online.
Over 100 boat trips a day amid weekday surge
Since the start of the blooming season in December, about 50,000 visitors had come to the lake, most of them from abroad, with a particularly noticeable rise on weekdays that were usually much quieter. Boat operators were now making more than 100 trips per day, Thapanee said, adding that group bookings for February were strong and many guests were explicitly requesting the same style of wooden boat shown on the Lisa poster.
Lotus bloom expected to last into March
Thapanee said the pink water lilies would be in full bloom in a main area of 25,000 rai likely until mid‑February.
“In the second area of 5,000 rai at Koh Don Luang, they bloom from mid‑February to mid‑March, so visitors can enjoy the scenery before the start of the hot season,”
said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Thale Bua Daeng thus remained an attractive destination despite the heavy influx of visitors, under the tightened supervision of tourism authorities.