When tickets for comedian Jimmy O. Yang’s June shows in Hong Kong sold out within seconds, fans flooded social media to lament how tough it was to get a seat. Many commenters sardonically repurposed the title of Yang’s 2023 stand-up special: “Guess How Much?”
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While some scrambled for resale tickets – complete with heavy mark-up – others outside the city found it easier to buy travel packages that included airport transfers and guaranteed bookings.
Similarly, when British rock band Coldplay performed at Kai Tak Stadium in April, many travelling fans secured their spots by purchasing bundles with concert tickets and hotel stays.
The frenzy for live shows is not unique to Hong Kong. A similar trend can be observed in mainland China, where in-demand concerts and music festivals are prompting fans to travel across the country for what they feel are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
With domestic consumption high on Beijing’s economic agenda this year as trade tensions make export growth less reliable, local governments are bundling spots at popular shows with discounted hotel, dining and tourist bookings to encourage people to buy more than a ticket.
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Shily Zhou, a 26-year old who works for an advertising firm in Shanghai, has travelled twice within the last five months to see her idol, the singer and dancer Liu Yuxin. One trip took her to Chengdu in March, where her concert ticket granted her a 50 per cent discount to see the famed Taoist mountain Qingchengshan.
