Taylor-made tourism plan and SGD 300 million top-up set to give Singapore a booming 2024

It is Taylor Swift day in Singapore right now, because the island nation begins internet hosting the pop megastar’s 6-concert collection on the National Stadium and basks within the glory of drawing tens of 1000’s of Swifties to the nation.

The Government of Singapore has labored arduous to not solely host the Taylor Swift reveals, but additionally to hold them unique to Singapore in South-East Asia.

This is a part of a tourism technique that additionally consists of an SGD 300 million top-up for the sector — the result’s an estimated SGD 26 billion to SGD 27.5 billion tourism spend by 15 million to 16 million worldwide guests in 2024. These figures have been offered by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan in the course of the Committee of Supply debates on March 1.

Several different big names — Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Rod Stewart, Deep Purple, and extra — have carried out or will carry out in Singapore this yr, and ‘live performance tourism’ can also be a nice automobile for selling the nation’s normal tourism points of interest.

No stone was left unturned to carry Taylor Swift to Singapore. It has already been revealed that the Singapore Tourism Board provided a “grant” — estimated, however not formally confirmed, to be up to SGD 4 million per live performance — to the Taylor Swift group for an unique tie-up.

Further, in accordance to a report in The Straits Times, the multi-agency group that started work on the deal greater than a yr in the past was led by Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong himself.

Breathing new life into city Singapore

Tong instructed ST that bringing the Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’ to the National Stadium was a part of the plan to breathe new life into the Singapore Sports Hub, the sports activities and recreation district throughout the Kallang zone of town.

“The Sports Hub was an essential venture for me, personally, and for my ministry,” he stated. “We wished to ensure we left no stone unturned, each by way of making certain we saved ourselves up to date on what the perfect venues around the globe might provide, but additionally what content material we might usher in.”

Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM) representatives have been a part of the group that went all out to carry Taylor Swift to Singapore. The group campaigned in Los Angeles in early 2023, assembly present promoters and brokers for music and sports activities occasions. That effort has given Singapore extraordinarily wealthy rewards.

For days and days now, the island nation has been buzzing with pleasure, particularly after Taylor Swift landed at the Seletar Airport, Singapore, on her constitution flight from Sydney, Australia, on February 27.

Various concert-related actions embody a “mild and water present” on the Marina Bay Sands — dancing fountains swaying to the music of Taylor Swift — that runs from February 28 to March 7.

Swifties from Malaysia have organised a ticketed Taylor-themed pool social gathering at Resorts World’s Adventure Cove Waterpark on March 3.

Media guides on Singapore are working a collection of articles on “what to see and do” whereas within the nation to attend Taylor Swift concert events; this undoubtedly advantages native companies.

Offering new merchandise and experiences

While the ‘Eras Tour’ has charged up the native economies in cities around the globe, wherever Taylor Swift has carried out to date, the Singapore technique is aimed toward sustaining the momentum.

Outlining what the federal government hoped to obtain by means of the SGD 300 million top-up for the Tourism Development Fund of Singapore, minister Tan stated that it will additional drive post-pandemic restoration within the tourism sector and hold Singapore a sexy vacation spot within the face of “intensifying international competitors”.

Also read: Swift impact: Singapore banks on big boost to economy with six Tay Tay concerts in March 2024

Mothership quoted Tan as saying, “This [fund] will [help] develop and market new merchandise and experiences, together with supporting native enterprises as they develop new mental properties, rejuvenate current tourism choices, and additionally upskill our tourism staff.”

Addressing Singapore’s native enterprises, the minister stated, “We encourage all firms to make use of this top-up to develop your enterprise.”

Mentioning among the “high-quality and first-of-its-kind experiences” coming quickly to Singapore, the minister referred to Sensoryscape, a 30,000 sqm pathway connecting Resorts World Sentosa and Sentosa Island seashores that’s anticipated to have a tender launch in March 2024. The pathway is predicted to have “multi-sensory gardens” and “digital mild shows”.

In 2025 will come Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore; and the brand new Singapore Oceanarium, a lot bigger than the present S.E.A. Aquarium. “These [projects] will assist us preserve worldwide mindshare and strengthen our enchantment as a compelling vacation spot,” stated Tan.