Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated The Eras Tour has conspicuously omitted the Philippines from its Southeast Asian itinerary, leaving fans and industry enthusiasts questioning the motives behind the exclusion.
Contrary to initial speculations about logistical challenges and lack of investment, it has come to light that Singapore may have clinched an exclusive deal with Taylor Swift, preventing the songstress from performing elsewhere in the region. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin have played significant roles in unraveling this perplexing situation.
The STB recently issued a joint statement with The Straits Times, disclosing their financial support for The Eras Tour through an undisclosed grant. The statement emphasized Singapore’s appeal as a hub for large-scale international events, citing strategic location, quality infrastructure, safety, efficiency, and diverse cultural offerings as contributing factors. The Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM) is committed to bringing diverse lifestyle and entertainment options to the National Stadium, where Swift is set to perform from March 2 to 9. Over 300,000 tickets have been sold, and all six shows are reported to be sold out, with a ‘significant’ number of fans traveling from other countries to attend.
The plot thickens with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, revealing at a business forum in Bangkok on February 16 that Singapore might have secured an exclusivity deal for The Eras Tour, purportedly preventing Swift from performing in other Southeast Asian countries. Thavisin claimed that concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) informed him about a substantial financial offer from the Singapore government, ranging between U.S. $2 million to $3 million per show.
“The Singaporean government is clever. They told [organisers] not to hold any other shows in [south-east] Asia,” Srettha said. This alleged deal could amount to a staggering U.S. $18 million (P1 billion), granting Singapore exclusive rights to host the highly anticipated tour.
Thavisin expressed regret over not being aware of the deal sooner, asserting that hosting the event in Thailand would have been more cost-effective for Swift’s team. He lamented the lost opportunity for Thailand’s economy, citing the potential added value concerts could bring. Thavisin suggested that even if the Thai government were to subsidize approximately 500 million baht (P777 million), it would have been a worthwhile investment.
It’s not only the Philippines that aimed to bring Taylor Swift’s tour to their country; the Indonesian government also shares this goal. “We need to do what the Singaporean and Australian governments have been able to do, which is bringing Taylor Swift. We need ‘Swiftonomics’ to boost Indonesian tourism,” stated Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s tourism minister.
As the mystery surrounding Taylor Swift’s omission of the Philippines from The Eras Tour deepens, the alleged exclusive deal between Singapore and the pop icon raises questions about the impact of capitalistic negotiations on the accessibility of international tours in the region.
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