Movie and TV enthusiasts favor popular travel destinations inspired by their favorite shows and films. - moviegoers and television enthusiasts adopting destinations, events, and experiences based on their favorite shows and films as popular travel choices.
Set-jetting, a growing trend among film and series enthusiasts, involves traveling to the locations where popular productions are filmed. While fans have long embarked on pilgrimages to see original filming sites of "The Lord of the Rings" or "Sex and the City," HBO's hit series "The White Lotus" has recently propelled this form of travel in the last few years.
"The White Lotus" is filmed at different resort locations of a fictional hotel chain in each season. The satirical vacation fantasy has transported viewers to Hawaii and Sicily in its first two seasons. According to a report by "The Hollywood Reporter," these idyllic scenes have contributed to a boost in local tourism for both destinations, and similar effects are expected for the third season, which premiered in February and was mostly filmed on the Thai island of Koh Samui. The Tourism Authority of Thailand anticipates that the new episodes will further strengthen the island's picturesque beaches and luxurious resorts as filming locations and tourist attractions. The series has already been linked to a "White Lotus" effect in travel, with a surge in search queries for Hawaii and Sicily after the first two seasons.
A recent analysis by Berlin-based data studio Datapulse also indicates a significant increase in Google search queries with the start of the new season for "The White Lotus" in Koh Samui. In the US, there were 32 percent more search queries for flights to Thailand and around 170 percent more for Koh Samui.
Based on streaming numbers and box office revenues, data studio Datapulse predicts that these eight films and series could make certain countries and filming locations popular travel destinations this year. "Jurassic World: Dominion" is coming to theaters in July, with parts of the film being shot on the island of Phuket, Thailand, like the latest season of "The White Lotus." The return of the beloved bear, Paddington, to his homeland in Peru for his latest adventure may also encourage visits to famous sites like Machu Picchu and Lima.
The second season of "The Last of Us" was filmed in the Canadian province of British Columbia, particularly in the town of Mission. The survival game based on Korean children's games, "Squid Game," has also generated considerable interest in Seoul, South Korea, after its massive success during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Wicked: For Good," the film musical sequel, is set to hit theaters later this year, and reports suggest some filming took place in Egypt's White Desert National Park. Lastly, the neo-western prequel "1923" filmed in Texas, further potentially attracting American tourists.
Enrichment Data: The popularity of "The White Lotus" has significantly boosted travel to its filming locations. For instance, the island of Koh Samui in Thailand has seen a notable increase in bookings for 2025 due to the show's appeal. Although specific shows for 2023 were not detailed in the search results, it's anticipated that similar trends will continue, as shows like "The White Lotus" serve as visual travel guides and often spark wanderlust among viewers. To better understand the impact on travel in 2023, analyzing the popularity of streaming shows and films that highlight unique travel destinations would be essential.
"The popularity of 'The White Lotus' has significantly boosted travel to its filming locations, with a notable increase in bookings for Koh Samui, Thailand in 2025. Similar trends are expected for other shows that function as visual travel guides, often sparking wanderlust among viewers, leading to increased interest in unique travel destinations and locations."
"Streaming shows and films like 'The White Lotus' can influence entertainment-based tourism, as they showcase captivating locations such as Hawaii, Sicily, Thailand, Peru, South Korea, and Texas, potentially making these destinations more attractive for travel in 2023."
