Taylor Swift and her currently underway 2024 leg of the Eras Tour have drawn widespread attention and awestruck reactions from across the globe. As the singer took to the stage in her just-concluded Melbourne shows, an audience of 96,000 strong greeted her on each of the three days, showcasing her sheer influence. Now, as the lady of the moment gears up to take hold of Sydney before proceeding to Singapore, a controversy of sorts has started to brew in Southeast Asia.

Interestingly, the allegations came from the leader of one nation calling out another with strong resentment.

Thailand blames Singapore for securing Taylor Swift and Eras Tour exclusivity

Taylor Swift remains all set to head over to Singapore to hold six straight days of the Eras Tour starting on March 2, 2024. However, the island nation coming across as the only South Asian stop in her itinerary has drawn criticisms and allegations from the Prime Minister of Thailand. A report by the Guardian had the leader, Srettha Thavisin, allege that the Singaporean government offered subsidies anywhere between $2 to $3 million to maintain exclusivity.

The six days of shows in the country have already drawn in bookings for hotels, flights, and amenities. The Thailand PM also put forward an argument that the same concerts in his country would have come at relatively cheaper prices for the organizer of the Eras Tour. Additionally, he also stated that the deal may have also come with a clause about not hosting concerts in any other nation in that region other than Singapore.

Thavisin’s resentment becomes clear when the economic impact of the singer becomes ever more evident.

US and Australia bask in consumer spending triggered by the Eras Tour

Starting in March 2023, Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour managed to rake in more than a whopping $5 billion in the span of nine months in the US alone. The shows, along with the concert movie of the same name, brought in audiences from across the country and resulted in an uptick in spending. Notably, the same economic effect in Australia had already blossomed months before the singer’s arrival.

Taylor Swift managed to generate over $126 million in collateral spending from the public in Australia as early as January 2024. With the tour now at its zenith, tourism and related activities have brought in an additional boom for the country. Judging by it, the Thailand PM’s allegations stand somewhat understandable.

What are your reactions to Thailand calling out Singapore for a possible Taylor Swift and Eras Tour exclusivity deal? Let us know in the comments below.