The “White Lotus” Effect: How TV Shows Are Dictating Our Vacation Spots
Not long ago, travelers planned their vacations with guidebooks, brochures, and advice from friends. Today, they plan them by clicking “Next Episode.” Welcome to the era of Set-Jetting—the cultural phenomenon where people book their holidays not based on geography or budget, but on whichever TV show or streaming series currently lives rent-free in their imagination. And if one show has defined this trend more powerfully than any other, it is The White Lotus. Its sun-bleached beaches, marble-lined lobbies, infinity pools, and intoxicating locations have turned entire tourism economies upside down. Sicily saw a surge in bookings. Hawaii recorded a boom. And now Thailand—the setting of the upcoming season—is bracing for an influx of travelers whose itineraries have been inspired not by guideb...



















