BANGKOK: Thailand’s latest tourism campaign - featuring Blackpink star Lisa - was supposed to be Ready for Love, but turned out to be Hard to Love for some, who feel that the images were generated by artificial intelligence.
Netizens were also inspired to replace the K-pop star with celebrities, fictional characters and even the famous pygmy hippo Moo Deng.
The original image shows the Blackpink member, whose real name is Lalisa Manobal, sitting on a wooden boat at the Red Lotus Sea, a tourist attraction in Thailand’s Udon Thani.
She was announced as a tourism ambassador for Thailand in October 2025.
However, some netizens left comments that were Pretty Savage, saying it looked AI-generated and unrealistic.
“It’s obvious that Lisa’s picture was cut out and pasted onto the image, it looks so fake,” a user commented on the Thai tourism authority’s Facebook post showing the image.
Another asked if the photo was taken at the actual location.
But other netizens have Shut Down criticism of the campaign, with one asking why people are commenting on the lack of realism.
“Don’t people know that posters don’t need to be realistic? They just need to convey emotions and meaning,” the commenter wrote.
The image also prompted netizens to edit and post their own versions of the poster.
One depicted the star-crossed lovers Jack and Rose from the 1997 hit movie Titanic, while another featured Game of Thrones and Aquaman star Jason Momoa stylishly seated on the boat.
Another user replaced Lisa with Moo Deng, the famous pygmy hippo from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
Thai brands also put their own spin on the trend, adding their mascots to the image.
In response to the trend, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool was quoted by The Nation as saying that she viewed the phenomenon as an opportunity.
She added that memes were driving interest and that many people now wanted to ride a boat and visit the Red Lotus Sea.
The authority’s deputy governor for marketing communications Nithee Seeprae, meanwhile, thanked users for making memes and said the trend turned the Red Lotus Sea into a major talking point, The Nation said.
He also addressed the AI allegations, saying that the image was shot in real life and then enhanced with computer-generated imagery (CGI).
In a social media post, TAT said the image is genuine and has been enhanced “for aesthetic purposes” in line with an established concept, and was designed by a team of professionals.
It added that all work complied with agreements and coordinated production with the artist’s agency, and had been selected and approved with the aim of presenting the beauty of Thailand’s tourist attractions.
“The Tourism Authority of Thailand thanks everyone for their feedback and suggestions, and will use them to further improve communication and create a more positive image for artists and Thailand,” it said. - The Straits Times/ANN
