The BTS Arirang world tour, which began in April and is currently in its South America leg, has become a powerful driver of local tourism economies, particularly in smaller markets that rarely host global acts. According to industry data, the tour has generated over US$500 million in direct revenue as of 1st October, with projections of US$1.8 billion by its conclusion in March 2027.
Secondary cities see outsized gains
While major hubs like Seoul and Los Angeles have benefited, the most striking impacts are in cities with constrained hotel supply. Jonathan Gough, Lighthouse lead for content, noted that year-on-year accommodation demand has surged up to 200% in some markets. In Europe, Brussels saw a 97% increase, Munich 94%, while Paris registered a more modest 7%. In North America, Tampa was up 82% and Baltimore 66%.
El Paso, Texas, with only 102 active hotels, hosted two sold-out shows that generated an economic impact of US$75 million—1,600 times the city's 2023 per capita annual income. According to Diya Mukherjee of Outlook Respawn, hotels within a two-hour radius were fully booked, with some operators reporting their first total sell-out in 35 years. The demand was so intense that residents converted homes into lodging.
“BTS is one of the paramount events for this community. We all are benchmarking this with Coldplay. There are a lot of similarities, and there are ways the BTS impact will be felt stronger and maybe a little bit longer,” said Brooke Underwood, executive director of Destination El Paso.
Fan spending during the El Paso concerts surpassed the US$34.7 million generated by Coldplay's two Sun Bowl Stadium shows in June 2025, underscoring the tour's exceptional pull.
Latin America leg delivers strong numbers
The tour's recent stop in Bogota, Colombia, generated an estimated US$38.7 million in local tourism spending and supported 5,244 jobs. As of press time, the group is performing in Lima, Peru—their first visit—with projected economic impact of US$58.1 million. These figures highlight the tour's role as a traveling economic catalyst, a phenomenon experts have dubbed “BTS-nomics.”
Earlier data from Hotels.com showed that international searches for Seoul jumped 155% within 48 hours of the tour announcement, while Busan—host of the group's fan festival—saw a 2,375% surge, with even higher spikes from Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Domestic searches for Busan rose 3,855%.
Forward bookings and upcoming Asia leg
As the tour moves toward its Asia/Oceania leg, analysts are already seeing significant booking compression. In Tokyo and Kaohsiung, short-term rentals hit 60% capacity five months ahead of concert dates. Hong Kong is bracing for a hospitality boom similar to Goyang, according to CBRE experts. Singapore will host HYBE's city-wide THE CITY campaign in December, with pop-up stores, themed dining, and branded transportation.
This trend aligns with broader shifts in travel demand, as seen in Southeast Asian beach economies and the rise of local experiences among Indian travellers. For hoteliers and destination marketers, the BTS effect offers a blueprint for leveraging mega-events to drive tourism in secondary markets.
Suh Jungho, project director of the Korean Management Institute at George Washington University, noted that four Las Vegas performances generated approximately US$340 million. The tour's ability to fill hotels, restaurants, and transport services across diverse geographies makes it a case study in concert tourism's multiplier effect.
