The Tourism Authority of Thailand spent big bucks to invite BLACKPINK's Thai member Lisa to serve as the latest tourism campaign ambassador. What was originally considered a top-tier national marketing move has unexpectedly backfired due to suspicions that the campaign’s main visual relied heavily on AI-generated images. Many netizens were stunned after seeing it, criticizing the authorities for turning what was worth billions of Thai baht (equivalent to several billion ringgit) into something worth only a few hundred baht (about several ringgit). They complained that not only was the budget wasted, but Lisa's personal charisma was undermined as well.
This time, the Tourism Authority of Thailand centered its new international tourism campaign around the theme “Feel All the Feelings,” hiring Lisa at great expense as the “Amazing Thailand Ambassador.” The main visual was set at Thailand’s Udon Thani province’s famous seasonal attraction, the “Red Lotus Sea.” The official copy describes how, at sunrise, pink lotuses blanket the lake, inviting visitors to soak in the tranquility and slow down, with an emphasis on healing experiences for body and mind.
However, once the campaign images were released, a wave of skepticism quickly followed. Many netizens said the photos looked “too fake,” questioning the lack of integration between Lisa and the background—which appeared not to have been shot on location but rather artificially generated and composited using AI. Some comments bluntly stated that since the campaign featured an artist with global influence, Lisa should have gone to the actual site to shoot real photos—showcasing both Thailand’s natural scenery and Lisa’s genuine charm. Using stacked AI visuals, they argued, only weakened the campaign’s credibility.
Nitipong Honark, a well-known Thai lyricist and composer, was especially harsh in his post: “It’s like turning a jewel worth hundreds of billions (about several billion ringgit) into one worth only a few hundred baht (about several ringgit)!”
Source: Liberty Times (Taiwan)