Taylor Swift Fans Make Expensive Pilgrimage to Singapore to See Southeast Asia's Only Concert: 'Never Spent Big on Anyone Else'

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Filipina Charlyn Suizo is in Singapore this week for one reason: Taylor Swift.
The 30-year-old software engineer, who runs a Philippines A group of Swifties, as the singer's fans are called, arrived from Manila on Friday with 17 friends.

She spends at least US$6,000 on her flights, concert tickets and accommodation. This is slightly higher than the average annual household income in his country of origin.

'Smart' decision: Singapore grant for Taylor Swift draws praise and criticism

“It’s the most money I’ve ever spent on a concert. I’ve never really spent big… on anyone else, just Taylor Swift,” said Suizo, who forked out for a VIP ticket costing more than 1,000 Singapore dollars (US$745). She plans to attend three of Swift's six performances in Singapore.

Suizo is among thousands of Swifties descending on Singapore this week from across Southeast Asia to attend the American star's Eras tour, giving the flagging local economy a much-needed boost .

Swift is playing six sold-out nights in Singapore this week, her only stop in Singapore. South East Asia.
Chinese fans of American singer Taylor Swift, Chen Wen (left) and Caaiiqun, pose for photos as they arrive to attend the first day of Swift's concert in Singapore, the only Southeast Asian stop of his Eras tour. Photo: EPA-EFE

Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Maybank, estimates that seven in ten out of 300,000 spectators will come from overseas and spend between S$350 million and S$500 million ($260 million to $370 million) on hotels, food and entertainment.

By comparison, the Singapore F1 Grand Prix has generated about S$2 billion (US$1.5 billion) in tourism revenue since its launch in 2008, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Meanwhile, HSBC analysts say hotel rooms in Singapore now cost 30 per cent more than before.pandemic 2019.

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Welcome to Singapore: Taylor Swift madness peaks days before Eras Tour concert in city-state

Welcome to Singapore: Taylor Swift madness peaks days before Eras Tour concert in city-state

Edmund Ong, managing director of Trip.com Singapore, said that from March 1 to 9, the cost of flights to Singapore almost tripled while accommodation bookings increased almost fivefold. Bookings for attractions and tours increased by more than 2,300 percent.

Economic growth in Singapore slowed to 1.1 percent last year, from 3.8 percent in 2022, with growth of 1 to 3 percent expected this year, according to the government.

Last month, the government said it had granted Swift a scholarship to play in Singapore. The agency did not specify the amount, but said the concerts were “likely to generate significant benefits for the Singapore economy, particularly for tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and catering.
Fans of American singer Taylor Swift, known as Swifties, queue to enter the National Stadium on a flyover on the first day of her concert in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE
The announcement irked other countries in the region, with Thailand's prime minister saying the grant was provided on the condition that it be Swift's only show in Southeast Asia, while a Philippine lawmaker said Declare that “that's not what good neighbors do“. The Singapore government has not confirmed the exclusivity clause.
Singapore has seen a concert boom since the end of pandemic lockdowns, with big names like Black RoseColdplay and Ed Sheeran play to sold-out crowds.

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