Ep 198: Will Taylornomics Encourage OTAs & SuperApps to Sell Concert Tickets in Asia?

This week, multi-Grammy-winning Taylor Swift kicks off her Asia tour in Tokyo ahead of dates in Melbourne, Sydney and six sold-out shows in Singapore. Music tourism is a hot emerging trend in Asia, with destinations like Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Macau, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong competing to attract shows by Asian and global megastars.

So, what happens next? Could Concert Tickets & Events Travel Packages become a new category on OTA and SuperApp platforms alongside hotels, flights and car rentals? Might payment brands become pop ticket distributors? Does the event ticketing model need to change – and, if so, what are some of the potential scenarios for the travel industry? Gary and Hannah are joined by Martin Haigh, Sales Director of Total Ticketing, which is a supplier of live event ticketing software to travel agents, attractions, integrated resorts, stadiums and B2C ticketing companies.

We discuss the mechanics of concert and sports event tourism, potential disruption to the sales channels for music concerts and major events - and the reasons why so many Taylor Swift fans missed out on their dream ticket.