Key facts
- Hotel bookings in Singapore have surged significantly due to upcoming BTS concerts.
- Demand for accommodation has increased by up to 50 times.
- Some hotels are charging nearly 10 times their normal rates during the concert period.
- Many hotels are already sold out, with tickets for the concerts also sold out.
- This trend mirrors similar price hikes and booking surges in other Asian cities hosting BTS concerts.
Hotel bookings in Singapore are experiencing a significant surge ahead of the highly anticipated concerts by K-pop group BTS in December. Demand has reportedly jumped by as much as 50 times, with some hotels charging nearly ten times their usual rates and many properties already sold out.
This trend is not unique to Singapore, as cities on BTS's tour schedule across Asia have seen substantial increases in accommodation searches, with some booking platforms reporting search volumes rising up to tenfold in destinations like Kaohsiung, Taiwan. All tickets for the four Singapore shows, scheduled for December 17, 19, 20, and 22 at the National Stadium, sold out shortly after going on sale.
Trip.com Singapore noted a massive spike in searches and a significant increase in hotel booking conversions during the ticket sale window. The platform compared the response to BTS to previous mega-concerts by artists like Taylor Swift and Blackpink, stating the reaction to BTS has been even more dramatic. Approximately half of the current bookings are for four-star hotels, while reservations in three-star hotels have increased nearly 50 times year-on-year. Visitors are primarily from Asian countries, with China and Japan leading, followed by Southeast Asian nations. The Bugis and Kampong Glam areas are particularly popular, accounting for nearly a quarter of all bookings during the concert period.
Similar price gouging has been reported in other locations. Netizens expressed outrage over exorbitant accommodation prices near BTS concert venues, with one establishment in Busan reportedly charging ₩18.0 million KRW (approximately $12,200 USD) for a two-night stay. Accommodations in other Korean concert stops like Goyang, Busan, and Seoul have also sold out almost instantly following the tour announcement.