UK music tourism hits record £10 billion in 2024: study

[LONDON] Music tourism contributed a record £10 billion (S$17.5 billion) to the UK economy last year as fans flocked to live shows by Taylor Swift and other big acts, industry data from UK Music revealed on Tuesday (Jul 1).

“Charli XCX, Bruce Springsteen, Sam Fender and Dua Lipa helped lure a record 23.5 million music tourists to concerts and festivals,” UK Music added.

Both figures were up by around one quarter on 2023, while the vast majority of “tourists” were fans travelling from other areas of the UK.

“Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour helped drive the 2024 figures to a new high with legions of overseas tourists coming to the UK to see the stars and enjoy concerts and festivals including Glastonbury,” it added.

UK Music said this year’s Oasis reunion tour, starting in Cardiff on Friday, “will hopefully continue the success story”.

Looking at the total 2024 spending, £5.1 billion came from music tourists attending concerts and festivals in the UK, including the cost of tickets, travel and accommodation, the study showed.

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“A further £4.9 billion was spent indirectly through the value chain, including costs such as fencing and security,” it said.

UK Music noted that “local music ecosystems stimulate the economy by boosting footfall, powering the hospitality and retail sectors, and creating vibrant places that attract residents, visitors, and investment”.

Its chief executive Tom Kiehl warned however of “a number of challenges” facing the sector, “such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure looming over venues, studios and other music spaces”. AFP