Blackpink performed in Malaysia in March as part of their world tour. — Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Whenever concerts featuring international pop stars are announced in Malaysia, tickets are often sold out to enthusiastic Malaysian fans — with the most recent being the record-breaking 75,000 tickets for British rock band Coldplay’s single show last month — but such events also sometimes must brave pressure from groups or political parties for the government to cancel them.
But beyond the political debate of whether Malaysia should host such concerts, when it comes down to the financial impact, the numbers are clear: Yes, concerts do help boost business and drive up demand for rooms at hotels.
In numbers Malay Mail obtained from data analytics firm ADATA Sdn Bhd, an analysis of monthly figures gathered directly from a sample of 65 hotels in Kuala Lumpur with between three- and five-star ratings indicated an observable correlation between when major concerts are held and the occupancy rates at these businesses.