The “Lover” singer will perform six shows in Singapore from March 2 to 9.

American singer Taylor Swift’s Eras tour sold out all six shows in Singapore, sparking a diplomatic spat and disappointing the country’s neighbors, The New York Times reported. independent. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong negotiated an exclusivity clause that banned Swift from performing anywhere else in Southeast Asia, an arrangement estimated to be worth around £14 million, which sparked fierce opposition from Singapore’s neighbours.

The “Lover” singer will perform six shows in Singapore from March 2 to 9. Thailand and the Philippines criticized the move and called the deal “unfriendly”. They say they have been denied the opportunity for increased tourism associated with her concerts.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he was informed of the agreement that Ms Swift would not perform any further performances in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore will offer Swift up to $3 million per concert if she does not perform elsewhere in Southeast Asia, according to one concert promoter. sky news.

“The Singaporean government is very smart. If she comes to Thailand, it will be cheaper to hold it here. I believe she can attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand. Even if we have to subsidize at least 500 million baht, it is worth it,” he explain.

“If I had known this, I would have brought the show to Thailand. Concerts can create added value for the economy,” the Thai Prime Minister said in a keynote speech at the 2024 iBusiness Forum in Bangkok.

Philippine lawmaker Joey Salceda said the deal was “not what good neighbors do.” “Our countries are good friends. That’s why actions like this cause harm.” While he mentioned that it boosted Singapore’s economy, it was “at the expense of neighboring countries that are unable to attract their own Foreign concertgoers, whose fans had to travel to Singapore”. He further said that the Philippines should not “let things like this pass.”

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Prime Minister confirmed that Ms Swift was being offered “certain incentives” from a government fund set up to revive Singapore’s tourism industry following the Covid-19 outbreak. “It’s proven to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t think it’s unfriendly. Sometimes one country makes a deal, sometimes another country makes a deal. I didn’t explicitly say ‘you come here on the condition that you don’t Go somewhere else,” he added.

Additionally, he suggested similar “mutually acceptable and sensible arrangements” might have been made in Australia when Ms Swift performed in Sydney and Melbourne before performing in Singapore. “If this is something that needs to be done to get a mutually beneficial outcome, and from a Singapore perspective, not only help the economy grow but also attract tourists and goodwill from across the region, I don’t think look at why No,” Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

He said: “If we didn’t have such an arrangement, would she go to other places in Southeast Asia, or more places in Southeast Asia? Maybe, maybe not. These are things she decides for herself.”