‘Lisa Blackpink’ and Andrea Bocelli invited to perform NYE: Thai tourism minister

A Thai K-pop sensation and Italian opera great have been invited to perform New Year’s Eve shows, the tourism ministry announced yesterday.

The top tourism official said they have reached out to Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, the 24-year-old K-pop superstar of Blackpink, and 63-year-old opera tenor Andrea Bocelli to perform at countdown celebrations in Phuket and Bangkok, respectively.

With a budget of THB200 million (US$6 million) in pocket, Pipat said he hopes Lisa will perform on Phuket while Bocelli brings his pipes to perform before the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

While Pipat was keen to promote the plan, he did not say whether he had gotten any response from the two world-famous artists. He said the plan to increase tourism confidence among Thais and foreigners is still in the works.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha recently praised Lisa, a Buriram native, for…