The Taylor Swift Effect: How the pop megastar impacted travel when she came to Australia

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again . . . The Taylor Swift Effect is a thing.

In Melbourne, where the pop megastar performed in front of her biggest audience yet (not once, but three times), the city’s economy saw a massive boost thanks to the thousands of Swifties who flocked to its streets, spending money on dining out and transport and hotel bookings.

For City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, the Eras Tour was one of the city’s most successful runs of a show to date.

“From the projections on Flinders Street Station to the businesses that welcomed Swifties with themed menus, Melbourne showed the world what a leading events and entertainment city looks like,” Ms Capp says.

“Our traders will continue to feel the flow-on effect of the extra $86 million that Swift and her legions brought to the city.”

Destination NSW — the peak tourism body in New South Wales — estimates more than 100,000 fans visited Sydney for Swift’s Sydney concerts and spent more than $80m. Business Sydney projected a boost of $133m to the city’s economy from the Eras Tour.

So, whether you’re a fan of Taylor or not, it’s hard to deny the cultural and financial juggernaut she’s become.

As such, we’ve devoted an entire episode of The Pod Well Travelled (our dedicated travel podcast) to The Taylor Swift Effect, which is available to stream now from wherever you get your podcasts.

During the show, I chat with lifestyle reporter and stylist Megan French, who is a self-proclaimed Swiftie and one of the many fans who made the pilgrimage from Perth to see Taylor perform at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

On The Pod Well Travelled, we discuss everything, from what it was like being at the show to Taylor’s effect on the travel industry more broadly, and whether she’s the best chief marketing officer in the history of music.

Travel editor Stephen Scourfield also joins the conversation to explain why Taylor’s Singapore shows are creating a stir with neighbours in South-East Asia.

Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts.