With concerts increasingly becoming a huge deal, more and more people are travelling to specific destinations to attend concerts. atlys, the leading visa processing platform, reports a significant increase in visa applications driven by travellers seeking global concerts, sports events, and festivals. This trend highlights a growing preference for experiential tourism, where people travel for unique events and cultural celebrations rather than traditional sightseeing. Here are all of the important details that you would need to know about this report.
Diljit Dosanjh’s Concerts Boost Visa Applications By Ten Per Cent
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or the OECD’s Tourism Trends and Policies report indicates that over 70% of travellers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, prioritise unique experiences over material possessions.
This shift is exemplified by ‘gig tripping’, where music enthusiasts cross borders for live performances. Visa applications have surged by 20 per cent for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour alone, while Diljit Dosanjh’s Illuminati Tour boosted visa applications by 10 per cent! Coldplay’s global tour has also contributed significantly.
Sports-driven travel has seen a similar uptick, with events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix leading to a 10-12 per cent increase in visa requests from major Indian cities. The 2024 Paris Olympics sparked a whopping 60 per cent surge in visa applications from India.
Festivals And Cultural Events Also Boost Travel To The Region
Festivals remain strong motivators for travel, with Germany’s Oktoberfest driving an 18 per cent rise in visa applications. Cultural festivals such as Diwali and Durga Puja are similarly boosting demand, with visa requests increasing by 15-18 per cent as NRIs and international visitors plan trips to India.
This trend towards experiential tourism reflects a fundamental shift in travel preferences, with people increasingly valuing immersive experiences and cultural connections over traditional tourist activities.
Mohak Nahta, the CEO of atlys said, “This surge in experiential travel marks a turning point in how people plan their journeys. It’s no longer just about destinations — it’s about the experiences that resonate with them, whether that’s a concert, a sporting event, or a cultural festival.”
Have you ever travelled to a destination specifically to attend a concert or a festival? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @diljitdosanjh and @taylorswift/Instagram
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First Published: October 09, 2024 10:59 AM