The Taylor Swift effect sweeps through the region, stirring excitement and enthusiasm. But the “Swiftie fervor” is not just about seeing their favorite pop star perform live; it’s also about a multi-billion dollar economic rhapsody. From Tokyo to Singapore, the star’s Asian leg is more than a concert tour; it is a beacon of post-pandemic recovery and a testament to strategic entertainment investments’ power in spurring local economic revival.
Even though she will not perform in their home country, many Filipinos are still eager to travel to Singapore to watch the concert. This is evident from the fact that tickets for her shows in Singapore, released on July 1, have already sold out within hours, with most buyers coming from the Philippines. A spokesperson for Klook, one of the official ticketing partners for The Eras Tour, told CNN Philippines that they could sell 2,000 tickets per show, which is double the capacity for each concert.
This is because the company offers various travel packages, including airfare and hotel stays. While it is possible to book individual concert tickets, the best option for fans is to opt for the entire travel package. According to a spokesperson for Cluck, another official ticketing partner, the most popular options are the VIP2 and City tickets, which have lower seats and exclude the premium areas in the stadium. Both of these tickets are available on the website for a substantially cheaper price than buying them individually.
Ingrid Delgado, a fresh graduate in Manila traveling to Singapore for the March 4 show, said she bought her tickets from a third-party seller and paid over USD 500 to travel to the concert. She will stay in a hotel with her friends for five days and will spend an additional USD 230 on food and other activities.
She said there are other ways to attend a Taylor Swift concert in Singapore, but the expense and logistics of those options could be more appealing. “The concerts are usually held in a huge arena, and you will be surrounded by thousands of Swifties from all over the world,” she said.
Aside from the concert, there is also a film version of The Eras Tour, which will be released in October. The 14-time Grammy winner has already started uploading clips of the film to her Instagram account.
While it is understandable that some fans feel super defeated at missing out on tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, especially in Thailand where she has a massive fan base, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Thai People’s Power Party (PPP) urged them to be patient and reminded them that there would be a future opportunity for them to witness their idol perform live in Bangkok.