Bangkok hotels near Rajamangala National Stadium are expected to see full occupancy during BLACKPINK’s upcoming “Deadline” concerts, reflecting Thailand’s growing “gig tripping” phenomenon, where foreign visitors can account for up to 40% of music event audiences.
Piti Kuakiatngam, general manager of Alexander Hotel Bangkok, said his 300-room property had already achieved a 90% occupancy rate during BLACKPINK’s World Tour shows on October 24-26, demonstrating strong demand among concertgoers.
“Hotels close to Rajamangala can maintain high room rates without the need for discounting when major events take place,” he added.
Alexander Hotel has also been able to sell rooms at higher rates during event periods compared with regular weekdays and weekends, while reserving a number of rooms for walk-in guests on concert days.
Most bookings for the BLACKPINK concerts came from international markets, including China, Japan, and South Korea.
Mr. Piti noted that concerts and festivals typically benefit hotels near event venues. Alexander Hotel, for instance, has seen additional bookings from attendees at both Rajamangala and the Mall Bangkapi.
As a complimentary service, the hotel provides free shuttle buses to and from the stadium before and after concerts.
He added that hotels located in downtown Bangkok still have to discount room rates during the three BLACKPINK shows, due to weaker Chinese inbound tourism.
Alexander Hotel, however, continues to serve a diverse range of guests, including business travelers, wedding parties, and leisure tourists, as large-scale events do not occur every week.
Gig Tripping Trend Boosts Tourism
Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and the South Pacific at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the agency supports year-round events to stimulate tourism.
“This aligns with the emerging ‘gig tripping’ trend, where fans travel to other cities or countries to attend concerts and artist fan meetings,” she explained.
Mega festivals and concerts often attract foreign tourists, who can make up 30-40% of total attendees, Ms. Pattaraanong added.
While large events require long-term planning and happen only a few times per year, fan meetings can occur multiple times annually, generating economic benefits even on a smaller scale, she noted.
Fan meeting attendees are typically loyal and high-spending. In Thailand, foreigners accounted for 10-20% of these audiences, she said.
Beyond ticket purchases, which are relatively expensive, visitors spend on hotels, transportation, food, souvenirs, and sightseeing during their trips.
The “Choo Young Woo Asia Fanmeeting Tour in Bangkok” last month attracted fans from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and China, representing 15% of the total audience.
“Artists and their fans visiting Thailand help reinforce the nation’s reputation as a preferred destination for regional and international events,” Ms. Pattaraanong said.
Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said concert and festival tourism is now a global trend that draws young and niche markets to host countries.
He noted that Thai travel agents rarely operate tour groups exclusively for concerts.
Instead, over 90% of travelers in this segment are independent tourists who use online travel agencies that offer all-inclusive packages, including transport and hotel bookings.
