Singapore:
The “Swift effect” is about to hit Southeast Asia, with Singapore benefiting from a Taylor-Made tourism boom as Taylor’s only stop in the region, while infuriating some in neighbouring countries. The US superstar’s six sold-out dates on her Eraser tour, which runs from March 2 to 9 at the National Stadium, are due to be watched by more than 300,000 fans from Singapore and neighbouring countries.
Ingrid Delgado, a recent graduate from Manila who is heading to Singapore for the show on March 4, said she had bought a “new sparkly dress” for the show but struggled to find an affordable hotel.
“A lot of hotels were already booked so we had to book a more expensive hotel,” she said.
Fullerton Hotels and Resorts and Fairmont Hotels told AFP they had seen increased demand for rooms during the concert.
Big spenders are taking advantage of luxury packages at Marina Bay Sands, named after Swift’s hit songs such as “Shake It Off” and “Stay Stay Stay.”
The hotel’s S$50,000 ($37,230) “Wild Dreams” package includes VIP tickets, fine dining, a hotel suite, limousine transfers and passes to tourist attractions.
The hotel told AFP that all room rates had been sold out.
Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines said they had seen increased demand for flights to Singapore, but did not say whether it was entirely down to the “Swift effect”.
Hundreds of Malaysian Swifties are set to cross into neighbouring Singapore.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m excited but also nervous,” said Haris Arsat, a 20-year-old student from Kuala Lumpur who is making his first trip overseas.
In the Philippines, low-cost airline Cebu Pacific changed the regular flight name of its flights to Singapore between March 1 and 9 to “1989,” Swift’s birth year and the title of her fifth album.
Red carpet
But when Swift’s only Southeast Asian show was announced, not everyone was happy – including her fans and the governments of Singapore’s neighbours.
Expensive foreign currency exchange costs, plus the high prices of luxury hotel packages, make travelling to Singapore expensive for many in the region.
Some were unhappy that Singapore subsidized Swift’s record-breaking tour to come to the country.
Officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Singapore Tourism Board last week declined to comment on the amount paid or whether an exclusive deal had been signed for the tour, which will be Singapore Swift’s only stop in Southeast Asia, citing trade secrets.
Earlier, Prime Minister Suretha Tavissin was reported as saying at a business forum in Bangkok that Singapore had indeed signed such an agreement.
Singapore officials did not directly address Sletta’s remarks but said Swift’s show was “likely to significantly benefit the Singapore economy.”
Singapore has rolled out the red carpet for a number of international artists, including Blackpink, Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, since the end of COVID-19 restrictions.
Coldplay will perform six sold-out shows in January, and upcoming appearances include Bruno Mars, Sum 41 and Jerry Seinfeld.
“Singapore reopened earlier than other countries after the pandemic, owing to its first-mover advantage and a concerted effort to attract performances, events and conventions,” Song Seng Wun, economic adviser at CGS International, told AFP.
“The momentum is building.”
“Don’t lose money right away”
When tickets went on sale last year, millions of people scrambled to get them, sparking a rise in online scams targeting desperate Swift fans.
The Singapore Police also released a social media video with the tagline “Don’t lose your money quickly, buy your ticket safely.”
Not caring about the risk, Ericko Dimas Pamungkas, 25, from Jakarta, logged into three devices to get a queue number for his ticket.
“I was very lucky. I feel like this concert was one of the most important moments for me,” he said.
Swift has evolved from a singer with relatable lyrics to a savvy businesswoman and one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and fans believe there’s a lot they can learn from the 34-year-old.
“I appreciate Taylor’s candor and the causes she stands for: rights, tolerance and compassion,” said Spencer La, a Singaporean pilot who queued for 22 hours to get tickets for his daughter and her friends.
“That’s something girls need to learn.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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