Taylor Swift fans are living out their “Wildest Dreams” this summer, not only scoring coveted Eras Tour tickets but getting a fresh stamp on their passports, too.
For some Swifties, the pop star’s newly-announced international dates come as both a second chance to secure tickets and a once-in-a-lifetime summer vacation abroad.
Even within the US, desperate devotees have trekked across state lines to see their favorite artist perform the sensational three-hour show, creating an explosion in concert tourism.
Welcome to “The Taylor Swift Economy.”
“Every weekend, the city that she visits releases the data around hotel occupancies and just the amount of money generated for each local economy — and it’s in the millions,” Callie Cox, a financial analyst for investment company eToro, told The Post.
“Taylor Swift, if you take a step back, is selling out stadiums for multiple nights in a row, booking out hotels in every city that she goes to, and commanding an obscene price for tickets,” she continued.
In Pittsburgh, an estimated 24,000 hotel rooms were booked at “premium” prices by Swifties making the Eras Tour pilgrimage this month for the record-breaking show, while tourists drummed up more traffic than usual for local businesses, from parking garages to restaurants.
Not to mention, fans are shelling out top-dollar for themed outfits to humble brag on social media.
In fact, compared to that of a Steelers game, Pittsburgh Swift fans “generated 20% or 25% more in revenue” and record-breaking food sales for local hotspots.
Dan Fleetwood, the president of QuestionPro Research and Insights, said that the economic impact of Swift is larger than dozens of countries, as the Eras Tour is estimated to generate $5 billion alone.
“If Taylor Swift were an economy, she’d be bigger than 50 countries; if she was a corporation, her Net Promoter Score would make her the fourth most admired brand, and her loyalty numbers mimic those of subjects to a royal crown,” he said in a statement.
“It’s all a testament to her focus on the fan experience.”
But the phenomenon is not exclusive to the US or just Swift — the “All Too Well” songstress is soon heading overseas where Beyoncé has already caused a frenzy.
If Queen Bey’s Renaissance Tour stop in Sweden — where she was blamed for the rise of inflation in the country — is any indication, there is the “potential” for Swift-flation should the concert tourism persist for the rest of the Eras Tour, said Cox.
“When you think about people attending Beyonce or Taylor Swift or any other big artists, they’re not just going to a city to see the concert, they’re taking some form of transportation to the city, they’re probably eating a meal there and most likely staying there as well,” she said.
“So when you think about the total experience, that these concertgoers are planning around a Beyonce or Taylor Swift concert, you know, those forces can add up.”
South of the US border, where Swift is poised to tour next, tickets ring in at a few hundred dollars or less — as opposed to the thousands charged for US dates. This means Americans clamoring for a deal will have to renew their passports and book flights, which often cost less than the exorbitant prices at home.
On TikTok, the fan-lauded bargains have sparked debate over the economic impact Americans could have on local economies, should they decide to travel for the “Shake It Off” crooner.
Cox said this is a “fair concern.”
“Those prices are in local currency for local people, considering their average salaries and their cost of living, it’s not for you,” TikToker @nandini said in a viral video, slamming another user for criticizing lowered ticket costs overseas.
It’s also caused some “Bad Blood.”
New Zealand airfare doubled ahead of the Eras Tour ticket sales, and Australian Swifties warned US fans to “stay in your own country,” fearing that Americans will snag all the available tickets.
But Cox said that an influx in demand, even from tourists, is “a good thing for a local economy” despite concerns over the current global “affordability crisis.”
“There needs to be a balance here,” she admitted. “Local economies and economists are thinking a lot about this and trying to figure out ways to preserve that experience for local citizens.”
One upside is that the uptick in spending is a surprising reality in the face of recession doomsayers — since many experts warn of an economic downturn amid hiked interest rates.
Yet, Americans are still spending thousands on discretionary expenses — like a coveted ticket to the Eras Tour — prompting Cox to ponder just how bleak the economic outlook really is.
“The fact that consumers or Americans feel comfortable enough to spend this much money on concert tickets, really says something,” she said.
“Taylor Swift is incredible, but it also shows that US consumers have the budget to spend on discretionary items, and that’s a good thing if you’re worried about the economy.”
This story originally appeared on NYPost
