Chinese travellers make the rounds in Asia for high-profile events
Sports games and concerts have become key to the region’s tourists hubs, says Trip.com
[SINGAPORE] Star-studded concerts and international sporting events have gained importance as critical drivers of tourist revenue in South-east Asia and Greater China, as the Chinese travel wave returns in 2025.
Cities such as Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta have emerged as prominent hot spots for large-scale events, owing to their accessibility to international travellers and suitable infrastructure for such events, said Trip.com’s senior regional director for South-east Asia, Edmund Ong.
Visits centring around such events have become increasingly common, with a notable rise in tourists from mainland China choosing to travel to attend concerts, festivals and sports games. “As the Chinese outbound wave gains speed, expect events to be the engine driving it,” Ong added.
The Business Times takes a look at some of the region’s largest events in 2025.
Sports events
World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2025
Where and when:
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- Jakarta, Indonesia: Oct 19 to 25
According to Trip.com, bookings on the platform to the Indonesian capital during this period have surged over 150 per cent year on year, as sports fans seek to cheer on gymnasts. The event is likely to attract fans from Asian giants Japan and China, which finished second and third in overall medal counts, respectively, during the games’ 2023 iteration.
33rd Southeast Asian Games
Where and when:
- Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla, Thailand: Dec 9 to 20
With events spanning several cities, the 33rd Southeast Asian Games are expected to attract more than 500,000 spectators, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourist bookings are expected to surge by 93 per cent year on year, Trip.com noted in a report, as Thailand hopes for a strong end to its tourism sector’s quiet year.
World Aquatics Championships 2025
Where and when:
- Singapore: Jul 11 to Aug 3
Inbound travel bookings increased by 31 per cent to Singapore during the period, Trip.com’s report noted. The greatest demand came from Indonesian travellers, with a 36 per cent year-on-year rise, while Chinese visitors surged 24 per cent.
Concerts
High-profile international musicians have also become large draws for tourists in markets across Asia. “Exclusive experiences such as live events provide compelling reasons to travel, often with extended stays and premium bookings,” said Ong.
Last March, pop superstar Taylor Swift’s six concerts in Singapore were estimated to have boosted the country’s tourism revenues by up to S$500 million.
Ong noted that Trip.com has experienced a sizeable uptick in interest from China, with events such as Lady Gaga’s Singapore concert in May drawing strong international bookings from there.
G-Dragon’s Ubermensch world tour
Where and when:
- Jakarta, Indonesia: Jul 26
- Hong Kong, China: Aug 9 and 10
The K-pop megastar has already held sold-out concerts across the region, with stops in Macau, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Bulacan in the Philippines.
However, a planned show in Bangkok in August was cancelled, with organisers citing concerns about a heat wave in the intended open-air stadium. This adds to the ongoing struggles that Thailand’s tourism sector has experienced in 2025, after an earthquake and the kidnapping of a Chinese actor spooked tourists earlier this year.
Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia world tour
Where and when:
- Bangkok, Thailand: Sep 16
- Manila, the Philippines: Sep 20 and 21
Blackpink’s Deadline world tour
Where and when:
- Bangkok, Thailand: Oct 24, 25 and 26
- Jakarta, Indonesia: Nov 1 and 2
- Bulacan, the Philippines: Nov 22 and 23
- Singapore: Nov 29 and 30
The concerts of popular K-pop group Blackpink and American rapper Tyler, the Creator are expected to bring a significant boost in tourism revenues to the four South-east Asian countries they will visit as part of ongoing world tours.
In Singapore, OCBC chief economist Selena Ling said in a June note that Blackpink’s November concert is likely to “brighten the tourism landscape” in the country.
Such trends in tourism reflect a “broader evolution in consumer preferences”, noted Trip.com’s Ong. “Travel is no longer just about the destination, but also about why they’re travelling, and events play a big part in that,” he added.
This has further influenced the manner in which tourism boards, travel platforms and event organisers fine-tune their business strategies. “For example, they are bundling packages, syncing calendars, and strategically placing events in cities like Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta,” he said.
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