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The start of Beyoncé’s world tour in Sweden last month caused a lot of excitement.
Many people wanted to see her perform, so there was a high demand for hotels and restaurants. Demand was so high that it affected Sweden’s economy.
The country reported that the cost of living went up more than expected in May. Economist Michael Grahn thinks that Beyoncé might be the reason for the higher prices.
In an email to the BBC, Grahn said that he doesn’t only blame Beyoncé for the high prices. However, her performances and the global demand to see her in Sweden probably contributed to it.
It’s very clear that the singer’s first solo tour in seven years is a big deal. Some estimates say the tour will earn around £2 billion ($2.5B) by the time it finishes in September.
Airbnb reported that searches for places to stay in the cities where Beyoncé is performing increased significantly when the tour was announced. Tickets for many concerts sold out quickly, and their prices went up when resold.
In Stockholm, Beyoncé performed for two nights in front of 46,000 fans from all over the world.
Last month, Visit Stockholm described the increase in tourism to the city as the “Beyoncé effect”.
Mr. Grahn said that it is unusual for one star to have such a big impact, similar to big soccer tournaments. He expects things to go back to normal in June.
Vocabulary
- World tour – A trip around the world, visiting different places in many countries.
- Cause – make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Excitement – Feeling very happy, thrilled, or enthusiastic about something
- Perform – to entertain people by dancing, singing, acting, or playing music
- Demand – a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use; a need or want; a need for something to be sold or supplied
- Economy – the system according to which the money, industry, businesses and trade of a country/region are organized; the supply of money, production of goods and purchase of goods; the flow of money between people, businesses and government
- Report – to tell other people about something; to share information; announce; explain
- Cost of living – The amount of money needed to pay for basic things like food, housing, and transportation
- Expect – to think something will happen; forecast; predict; suppose
- Economist – A person who studies how money, resources, and businesses work in an economy
- Blame – to feel, think or say that someone did something wrong;
- Global – related to the whole world; everywhere in the world
- Contribute – to give something, especially money, to help achieve or provide something; to affect
- Solo – alone; individually; just one
- A big deal – Something important, significant, or impressive
- Estimate – guess; approximate; judge; suppose
- Earn – to get something (usually money) because you worked, sold something, or helped someone; to receive
- By the time – At a particular point in time or when a specific event happens; when
- Significantly – In a noticeable or important way or manner
- Sell out – When all the items or tickets available are bought and there are none left
- Resell – to sell something again, usually after buying it from someone else
- Unusual – not normal or typical; strange
- Impact – influence; effect; consequence; to make change
- Tournament – a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about Beyoncé’s world tour and its impact on tourism and the economy?
- In your opinion, should governments take any measures to regulate ticket prices for popular events like Beyoncé’s tour?
- Have you ever attended a concert or event that had a significant impact on a city or region? How was it?
- Are there any other celebrities or events that you think could have a similar impact on tourism and the economy? Why?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
