Singaporean Authorities Speak Out Amid Criticism of Taylor Swift Concert Deal

The Singapore Tourism Board has issued an official statement about Taylor Swift’s Eras tour agreement.

As per her tour itinerary, the 34-year-old musician is set to hold six concerts in Singapore from March 2 to 9 this year.

Earlier this month, Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda openly criticized Singapore’s decision to exclusively host Taylor Swift concerts as part of her highly praised Eras Tour in Southeast Asia.

Salceda voiced his disapproval of Singapore’s apparent disregard for neighboring countries by finalizing an agreement with Swift to stage concerts solely in the city-state.

In a statement, Salceda said, “[This] isn’t what good neighbors do. Our countries are good friends. That’s why actions like that hurt.”

In response to Rolling Stone India’s report highlighting criticism from the Philippines, Singaporean authorities have issued a statement.

Without directly addressing Salceda’s comments, Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) jointly released an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone India.

“Since the government took back the Singapore Sports Hub, the Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), a wholly owned entity under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), has been working to make it more accessible and vibrant for all Singaporeans,” the statement reads.

“Under KASM’s management, the Sports Hub has hosted a wide range of programs, from live sports events to live entertainment events by local and international artists. KASM works with event organizers to create unique experiences for Singaporeans and visitors. It makes use of its strong global relationships and the multi-disciplinary experiences and expertise of the KASM team.

“In the case of Taylor Swift, MCCY and KASM recognized that there would be significant demand from Singaporeans as well as fans across the region for her to perform in Singapore, and worked directly with AEG Presents for Taylor Swift to perform in Singapore. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also supported the event through a grant.

“More than 300,000 tickets have been sold, with a significant number of fans traveling in from other countries. It is likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel, and dining, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift has performed.

“Singapore has much to offer as a destination for large-scale international events, with our strategic location, quality infrastructure, safety, efficiency, and diverse cultural offerings. KASM will continue to actively bring a range of diverse lifestyle and entertainment offerings to the Sports Hub.”

Swift is scheduled to perform four more shows in Singapore this month.