On the evening of the 24th, American singer Taylor Swift’s “Time” tour took the stage in Lisbon, Portugal. During the performance, some fans were trapped, prompting Taylor Swift to make a special request in Portuguese for security to assist. Additionally, Taylor Swift’s concert has stimulated the economy in Europe.
Friday saw the 34-year-old Taylor Swift holding her “Time” tour in Lisbon, Portugal. A video on social media showed her pausing during her piano performance of the new song “The Smallest Man in the World” to send security to help a fan in distress in the audience. Pointing to someone in the crowd, Taylor Swift spoke in Portuguese saying, “Please help, in the front.”
It is unclear what happened to the fan, but Taylor Swift expressed her hope that everyone was safe. In another clip, Taylor Swift, dressed in a shiny silver bodysuit, smiled at cheering fans in the Benfica Stadium, thanking them in Portuguese. The cheers from the fans grew louder. Taylor Swift made her debut in Lisbon on Friday and Saturday, accompanied by the band Paramore.
In addition to showcasing her Portuguese skills, Taylor Swift’s presence has had a significant impact on the European economy. According to “The Portugal News,” all flights departing and returning from Madrid and Seville to Portugal on the 24th and 25th for Taylor Swift’s performances were sold out. Travel demand from the Spanish capital to Porto during the same period was higher than average, with flights on the 23rd completely booked. The return journey was also the same, with a booking rate close to 100%.
Apart from the strong increase in travel demand in Lisbon, nearby areas also saw high demand, with occupancy rates reaching 30%. Portugal is not the only example, as the Taylor Swift concert scheduled for May 29-30 in Madrid, Spain, and earlier this month in France have seen similar phenomena.
According to “Mirror,” researchers investigated Airbnb prices in the UK one week before and during Taylor Swift’s performances in the city. The biggest increase was in accommodation prices in Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium from June 7th to 9th weekend, where prices surged by 223%. Taylor will then perform in Liverpool’s Anfield area on June 13th, 14th, and 15th, with room prices more than doubling.
Barclays Bank in the UK stated that the “Time” tour will contribute £997 million (approximately $1.26 billion USD, about NT$40.7 billion) to the UK economy. Fans are estimated to spend an average of £848 (around $1,100 USD, about NT$34,600) on tickets, accommodation, travel, merchandise, new clothing, food, and beverages. Approximately 1.2 million fans are expected to attend Taylor Swift’s 15 summer concerts in the UK this year.