Hotel rates in Bangkok and flight bookings to Singapore have increased significantly for December concerts by BTS, the globally renowned K-pop group, according to travel technology company Amadeus. In Bangkok, median hotel room rates for seven-night stays starting November 28 are 73 euros per night, and 77 euros for stays beginning December 5, about 14% and 20% higher respectively than the 64 euro rate for stays starting November 21, before the concerts.
The South Korean group will perform at Rajamangala National Stadium on December 3, 5 and 6, with all three shows sold out according to concert organizer Live Nation Tero. Higher rates are also seen for nights without performances. In Singapore, international flight bookings for arrivals between December 16 and 23 are up 62% year-on-year, with bookings from the Philippines rising more than sevenfold, moving the country from ninth to second among Singapore's source markets for the period.
BTS will play four shows at Singapore's National Stadium on December 17, 19, 20 and 22, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. Singapore's hotel rates have risen more modestly, averaging $237 per night during the concert period, up 6% year-on-year. Trip.com Singapore general manager Edmund Ong said that searches surged after the tour announcement, followed by a sharp rise in hotel bookings for December 16-22, as cited by CNA.
In Bangkok, Airbnb reported a nearly 590% year-on-year rise in searches for stays during BTS's December concert dates. Paul Wilson, Amadeus's senior vice president for hospitality in Asia Pacific, said K-pop concerts were influencing travel patterns across the region. Destinations could use the influx of fans to promote local experiences, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore beyond concert venues, he said.
For travellers, these facts indicate that booking early may be essential to secure accommodation and flights during major concert events, as demand drives up prices and availability tightens significantly.
