From Coldplay to Bryan Adams: Concerts Driving India's Travel

08.11.2024 - 17:27 / skift.com / Taylor Swift / Bulbul Dhawan

When Canadian singer Bryan Adams’ Mumbai show was announced in August, it sold out within 24 hours. Two weeks later, over 80% tickets in most venues were sold – a total of 75,000 tickets for the six-city tour in December. 

This is the sixth time Adams is visiting India and his popularity is growing. Social media platforms are filled with comments from fans from other cities who are planning to travel to Mumbai or Gurgaon to see the ‘Summer of ’69’ singer. They’re coming from all over, be it Ranchi or internal parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Artists like Coldplay, Jonas Brothers and Sting have all played in India. Coldplay is also returning next year.

For Coldplay’s Mumbai shows in January, Indian online travel agency Ixigo has witnessed a 350% increase in flight bookings. Hotel prices near the DY Patil Stadium for the dates of the concert have surged, Skift previously reported.

Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh has created as much buzz as Coldplay. For his concert in Jaipur last Sunday, flight bookings and hotel occupancy soared, according to EaseMyTrip, an online travel agency. Ixigo said flight bookings have surged 300% for Dosanjh’s upcoming show in Chandigarh on December 14.

“The passion for live performances is driving fans to travel, and this surge in bookings across flights, trains, and buses shows how music tourism is becoming a major force in the country,” said Aloke Bajpai, group CEO, Ixigo.

Indians are also not shying away from traveling abroad if it means getting to see their favorite musicians perform. Megastar Taylor Swift still hasn’t played a concert in India, but visa processing platform Atlys last month reported that Swift’s Eras Tour alone led to a 20% spike in visa applications in India.

These concerts are fueling domestic travel. 

Tickets for Lollapalooza India 2025 went live on entertainment platform BookMyShow on Tuesday, September 10, and by Thursday night, general admission weekend passes were sold out. The festival features the India debut of Green Day and former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.

“I am a big fan of Green Day, and had made bookings to see them in South Africa in January next year. But then I found out that they were coming to India for Lollapalooza next year, and I canceled all of that, because this way, I would only need to make a trip from Mohali to Mumbai. I wouldn’t have minded going all the way to South Africa, but this way, I can save some money and still see Green Day,” said Vikas, a 34-year-old fan.

A Louis Tomlinson fan group called “Louies of India,” which is recognized by and in contact with Tomlinson’s official team and label in South Asia, raised funds to help fans who could not afford to purchase tickets on their own. The group told Skift that by their