Hanoi gains tourism success from Blackpink shows

Hanoi has gained initial tourism success from the two shows by K-pop girl group Blackpink over the weekend.

An audience of more than 60,000 were thrilled by performances by Blackpink at My Dinh National Stadium on July 29 and 30. Hanoi was the last destination of the band's Born Pink world tour.

This girl group has a big fandom around the world, especially in Asian countries like Thailand, China, and the Philippines.

Their shows attract fans in not only host countries but also from worldwide while grabbing the attention of the press and social media influencers, subsequently helping popularize images of the host countries.

To prepare for this event, the cultural and tourism sectors of Hanoi carried out a number of activities from the start of July.

The Tourism Department requested travel companies and accommodation establishments to ensure the best-quality services. Some tourism firms also coordinated with authorities to design and offer tours suitable for young travelers who came from regional countries to enjoy the Blackpink shows.

Before the events, air tickets to Hanoi had continually been sold out despite rising prices, hitting VND8 - 9 million (US$338 - 380) for each round-trip flight. Many hotels near the venue reported full bookings early.

The capital city welcomed a large number of visitors from such countries as Thailand and China coming to see their idols.

That has contributed to a sharp rise in the number of tourists to Hanoi in July.

The Tourism Department estimated the city attracted 2.38 million visitors in July, rising 21.4% year-on- year and including 380,100 foreign arrivals.

In the world, musical tourism is emerging and proving attractive to youngsters. Many countries have maximized big music shows to lure tourists.

Posters featuring artists are painted on planes and hung along roads, and at accommodation facilities to advertise those events. Many related products and services are also launched to draw tourists.