Kaohsiung’s “concert economy” injected billions of New Taiwan dollars in tourism revenue into the local economy last year, amid a concert boom driven by appearances by many international acts.
At least 157 concerts were held in Kaohsiung last year, drawing 1.71 million attendees and generating more than NT$5.7 billion (US$174.8 million) in tourism-related revenue from transportation, food, accommodation and other services, Kaohsiung government data showed.
International stars such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, English pop group Take That, and other bands and singing idols performed in Kaohsiung last year, while Japan’s LiSA held a fan meet-up in the southern port city.
Photo courtesy of Live Nation Taiwan via CNA
The Megaport Festival, one of the most iconic outdoor music festivals in Taiwan, was also held in the city last year, attracting 300,000 people, the city government said.
South Korean boy band Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, US pop rock band Maroon 5, South Korean singer Rain, South Korean band CNBLUE and Australian singer Kylie Minogue are to perform in Kaohsiung this year.
Others set to appear are Japan’s Koda Kumi and Hirosue Ryoko, Taiwanese rock band Accusefive (告五人), Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung (張學友) and Taiwanese pop diva Jody Chiang (江蕙), the city government said.
Given the boost high-profile concerts give to Kaohsiung’s tourism economy and international visibility, the city has provided incentives and support for the concert economy, its Web site says.
These include exemptions or reductions of entertainment taxes for concert ticket revenues and venue rental fees, and administrative support, such as arranging public transportation to help resolve traffic issues around performance venues, the city’s Web site said.
The city has also devised a visitor retention plan that includes developing a nighttime economy, featuring local night markets, night clubs and bars, and improving public transportation.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES: Despite the threats from outside, Taiwan and Lithuania thrived and developed their economies, former president Tsai Ing-wen said Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Saturday thanked Lithuania for its support of Taiwan, saying that both countries are united as partners in defending democracy. Speaking at a reception organized by the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group welcoming her on her first visit to the Baltic state, Tsai said that while she was president from 2016 to last year, many Lithuanian “friends” visited Taiwan. “And I told myself I have to be here. I am very happy that I am here, a wonderful country and wonderful people,” Tsai said. Taiwan and Lithuania are in similar situations as both are neighbors to authoritarian countries, she
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
RSS