Blackpink's Lisa appointed Thailand tourism ambassador amid prolonged crisis

By Hoang Phong October 15, 2025 | 07:04 pm PT

Blackpink's Lisa at an event in late October, 2024. Photo courtesy of her Instagram

Lisa of the South Korean girl group Blackpink has been appointed the Amazing Thailand ambassador for the next 12 months to promote Thailand's tourism image worldwide.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said Wednesday Lisa's appointment marks a milestone in showcasing Thailand's beauty, diversity, and wonder through a fresh lens—one that will inspire both Thais and international visitors to rediscover the country, The Nation Thailand reported.

The agency hopes her star power will spur more visits to Thailand and push total tourism revenue above 3 trillion baht (US$92.4 billion) in 2026.

"TAT aims to position Thailand as a high-quality and safe destination, warmly welcoming both domestic and international travelers," Thapanee said as quoted by Bangkok Post.

"We want to reinforce Thailand's image as a quality leisure destination where visitors can create lasting, meaningful memories at every step of their journey."

Lisa, a 28-year-old Thai singer, dancer and actress, debuted with Blackpink in 2016 and launched her solo career in 2021 with the album Lalisa.

She has more than 107 million followers on her Instagram account.

She made her acting debut in Season 3 of the hit TV show "The White Lotus", which Thai tourism operators viewed as an opportunity to promote travel across southern provinces this year.

Arrivals in Thailand in the first eight months this year fell about 7.5% year-on-year to around 25 million.

The country has been struggling to restore arrivals and receipts to pre-pandemic levels, due to several negative factors, including safety concerns, the earthquake in March and Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes.

Thailand welcomed 35.5 million foreign tourists last year, a 26% increase year-on-year.