By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-02 11:49:45 | Updated at 2025-01-08 21:51:08
6 days ago
As Singapore sets its sights on hosting more blockbuster acts like Taylor Swift in 2025, its rise as a premier concert destination has drawn envy from its neighbours, but tourism experts argue the city state becoming a mega-event hub could actually drive growth opportunities across the region.
Last year, Singapore had a packed line-up of A-list events, such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and the Formula One race, attracting thousands of fans from all over the world.
American pop star Swift’s six sold-out shows in March drew more than 300,000 concertgoers from across the globe, though the concerts’ success sparked envy among Singapore’s Southeast Asian neighbours, with some accusing the city state of hogging exclusive deals and urging their own governments to step up.
However, tourism experts said Singapore’s success benefits the entire region, rather than detracting from it.
“The media buzz and the publicity surrounding Singapore’s apparent hijacking of her shows have woken up these countries to the rewards available in this market segment (high-end concerts) and their respective infrastructural or organisational shortfalls,” said Christopher Khoo, managing director of MasterConsult Services, a tourism consultancy company.
Kevin Cheong, a managing partner at tourism and destination development consultancy Syntegrate LLP, agreed that Singapore emerging as the preferred destination among these performers has benefits for neighbours too.
