Top holiday destination introduces mandatory new requirement for all foreign visitors from tomorrow
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to the white beaches and exotic luscious greenery of a popular British tourist destination will face a new entry requirement from tomorrow.
In an attempt to digitise the immigration process, streamline arrivals and enhance security measures, excited tourists now have to fill out a digital form before travelling.
Following a tourism boost after one of the most hotly discussed TV shows used its scenery as a set, the country has decided to replace its old-fashioned paper system with a slick new digital travel card.
Thailand’s iconic beaches have received an influx of White Lotus fans recent months.
But travellers should know they need to fill out the online form 72 hours before you jet off for a spontaneous trip- so get on it!
Avoid a characteristic White Lotus-style mishap and fill out the form well in advance to avoid delays.
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The move replaces the conventional paper-based TM6 arrival card with an online form called the TDAC which can be found on the Thai immigration bureau’s official website.
It records basic personal information, passport details, travel itinerary, Thai lodging address and a basic health declaration.
This will then be connected to Thailand’s biometric database to improve security screening for tourists whether tourists are travelling by land, air or sea.
Thai bureaucrats hope the move will allow them to crack down on human and narcotics trafficking and gather public health information.
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After seasons one and two of the critically acclaimed show, locations Hawaii and Siciliy saw a 300% year-on-year surge in tourism, nicknamed the “White Lotus Effect.”
The third season of the Emmy Award-winning HBO show shows off the landscapes of Koh Sumai, as well as better-known destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket.
Koh Samui Island has, since the third series aired in January, already seen a 44% rise in hotel reservations and an 88% increase in searches according to the Bangkok Post.
Searches linked to Thailand travel significantly increased in the US, UK, Germany, France and Israel with searches for Koh Samui accommodations up 65% since January 2025.
The country's tourism authority is hoping that the “White Lotus Effect” will bump its tourism revenue back to pre-pandemic levels from 1.8trn baht ($53.5bn) to 3trn ($82.3bn) baht of revenue.
After predictable initial teething problems, as many travellers may not realise the system has changed, the hope is that the new digital rollout will become a “fast pass to paradise,” making the journey almost hassle-free.
The highlights of Phuket
The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski visited Phuket in Thailand in 2023, exploring different parts of the island.
Sophie Swietochowski says: "With white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and everything you need at the click of a finger, staying here feels as if you’ve stepped straight on to a movie set, even more so, now that TV hit The White Lotus is heading to Thailand for its third series.
"Of course when you venture to this exotic area of the world, some exploring is a must, and at the Wang Kiang Ku river, you can book in for a bamboo rafting experience that will get you up close with nature.
"Each raft, cleverly crafted by locals, will transport you through winding waters where wildlife flourishes — we spotted snakes hiding in trees and a baby turtle perched on a rock."
Read more about Sophie's trip to Phuket, here.