Scheduled to begin on April 9 at Goyang Stadium, BTS ARIRANG’s upcoming world tour will include 82 shows in 34 cities across North America, Europe, South America, Asia and more. The ripple effect was immediate and widespread.
According to data from Hotels.com, international searches for travel to Seoul increased 155% within 48 hours of the tour’s announcement on January 14. Even more surprising, searches for Busan, which will host concerts in June, skyrocketed by 2,375%, particularly in countries/regions such as Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Domestic interest has also exploded: travel searches in Busan increased by 3,855% and in Seoul by 190%.
The global reactions were equally intense. In Brazil, major news radio BandNews FM reported that searches for buses to Sao Paulo, where BTS will perform in October, increased more than 600-fold after the tour announcement, citing data from local transportation platform ClickBus.
The international media is also taking notice. Britain’s The Guardian highlighted the economic significance of BTS’s tour, citing economists who said such a global event could have a significant impact on North America’s urban economies. They expect massive increases in tourism, lodging and overall consumer spending at each tour location.
Citing Bread Financial, the report adds that a single concert ticket typically generates more than three times its value in local economic activity. However, Tourism Economics, a tourism market research firm, pointed out that these averages do not apply to BTS. “They will far exceed those numbers,” they said. “Indeed, it is difficult to even estimate the true extent of the tour’s economic impact.”
In addition to financial influence, BTS also plays a key role in strengthening South Korea’s global image. In a recent survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, BTS topped the list of people who positively influence Korea’s national image. Member Jungkook also placed sixth among solo artists, further demonstrating the group’s powerful individual and collective reach.
BTS will release their fifth album, ARIRANG, on March 20 at 1 PM KST. The album will include 14 tracks, delving into themes of identity, desire and deep affection, emotions that are expected to resonate with listeners around the world.
Sources: Daum
