The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is facing a wave of criticism following a tourism campaign featuring Lisa from BLACKPINK.
The latest TAT promotional campaign, featuring Lisa, the pop icon of BLACKPINK, has sparked mixed reactions online.
An image of Lisa at the center of a social media controversy
Detractors claim that TAT secured the services of a "rare gem", but undermined its value due to a poor presentation.
They also questioned why artificial intelligence was used to represent Lisa, rather than filming or photographing her on location.
This campaign is part of the TAT's 'Feel All the Emotions' tourism promotion, featuring Lisa, a world-renowned Thai artist, in her role as Thailand's tourism ambassador.
See: Thailand is betting on LISA to attract 10 million tourists and 3,000 billion bahts
The latest published image shows Lisa in front of the red lotus sea (Talay Bua Daeng) in Udon Thani province, a seasonal attraction known for its pink lotus flowers that bloom at sunrise.
In the promotional text accompanying the image, the TAT invites travelers to:
“Discover the serenity of the red lotus sea, letting their hearts drift on the pink waters covered with lotus in bloom at the first light of day, when time seems to slow down and one can feel true relaxation ”.
However, shortly after the image was published, social media users were divided into two camps.
Criticism aimed at the use of artificial intelligence
Supporters praised the natural beauty of the red lotus sea and Lisa's appearance, while detractors criticized what they described as unrealistic AI-generated images.
Some commentators stated that Lisa seemed to "float" unnaturally in the scene and didn't convincingly integrate into the surrounding landscape.
Others expressed their disappointment that the TAT, after securing the support of a world-renowned artist as ambassador, didn't opt for an on-location photo shoot.
They argued that a real photograph would better reflect both Thailand's natural charm and Lisa's presence.
A missed opportunity according to several cultural observers
On his personal account, renowned composer Nitipong Honark stated that the image showed Lisa in a way he had "never seen before: emotionless, artificial, and lacking beauty".
“How is it possible to take a jewel worth tens of billions and present it in a way that's only worth a few hundred baht?” he wrote.
He added that there was no need to resort to AI or overly elaborate visuals.
“What is needed is the natural charisma of a world-renowned artist and a better story, otherwise, the TAT risks devaluing Lisa herself.”
He also unfavorably compared the campaign image with tourist photos taken by ordinary visitors at floral attractions, claiming that these images looked more appealing and authentic.
“This type of work requires not only intelligence, but also feeling and taste,” he added.
Beyond Lisa, a broader debate on authenticity in tourism promotion
Despite widespread praise for the campaign concept and the power of the stars, the debate continued.
It highlights broader concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence in advertising, as well as the delicate balance between technology, authenticity, and artistic value in national promotion campaigns.
See also:
Thailand's bet: saving tourism thanks to Lisa from Blackpink
The Lisa effect: her latest clip boosts tourism in Thailand
Lisa and 5 other Thais among the 100 global fashion icons
The Lisa effect: how the Thai star of Blackpink turns everything into gold
AI-generated photos of monks shock Thailand
Source: Thai PBS World
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1 comment
Obviously, AI-generated photos cost less (in principle... although in Thailand, principles are often sat on...!) than a promotional campaign with Lisa in flesh and blood, which would have to be paid at a premium for her effective presence on multiple occasions and at tourist sites sometimes over a thousand kilometers apart, also taking into account the fact that this campaign lasts 12 months!
Impossible to mobilize such an artist at all the favorable moments of the various tourist sites chosen for promotional purposes for "live" photo shoots..
But beyond this evidence, the conception of the photo is beyond doubt, I would even say that it is the result of a sloppy work by a beginner, far from a professional work carried out by a talented computer scientist mastering his machine and his subject.
For, by passing it to the examination of a photo detection software "AI" as I just did (it took me exactly 4 minutes!)
The analysis revealed several anomalies that can be seen even with the naked eye, notably the absence of shadows on the boat and on the surface of the water (absence of solar reflections as well) while the sky is clear with a setting sun…
Difference in sharpness between the main character and the background, especially the boat where the depth of field is different from that of the lotus flowers, also lack of variety in the flowering of water lilies: no wilted flowers, even slightly, no buds, and especially absence, at sunset, of the phenomenon of nyctinasty: at the end of the day, the lotus flower closes completely to protect its reproductive organs from the cold and humidity of the night…
Now, all the flowers are wide open, fully deployed as in the middle of the day, all proof of amateur work !!!
This won't help (beyond the credibility of an artist adored by all of Thailand for her talents as a singer and show-woman and who is taking a big hit on the coffeemaker) to boost the rating of Thai tourism, which, once again, is not at all up to its claims and the means to be used to restore the image of a bygone tourism of which it could be proud and whose first quality was the authenticity of its culture and the quality of its reception closest to its rural population and its age-old traditions.
Who did the Thai Tourism Office hope to attract with this kind of promotion as artificial as this photo?
Or else, they take us, us tourists, for "what we are" with an incommensurable naivety!!!
Today, a new film is released: "Thai tourism desperately seeking kind tourists"…
But all this is a long way off, swept away with the back of the hand and a few touches on the keyboard of a computer…
Gone with the wind… Someone said that before me??… film with whom you say? Emmanuel M. and Mireille Mathieu? Oh well, sorry then!