Attending Diljit Dosanjh's concert in Delhi was more than a night of music; it was a dive into the infectious energy, cultural pride, and shared euphoria of the night. Securing my tickets for Diljit's Dil-Luminati Tour, I knew I was in for a ride. However, I would not have thought that the event would fit perfectly into an emerging trend that is travel: Live Events become the main reason why one books a trip. As Diljit Dosanjh's brought his Dil-Luminati Tour to Delhi on 26th and 27th October which begins a ten-city tour all over India.
As I entered the concert venue, it was clear that I was not the only one excited. Fans next to me were sharing tales of how they had battled for tickets, some for as long as nine hours on booking platforms such as Zomato Live. "I fought for nine hours to get tickets," one concert attendee said, after finally getting a ticket, only to find himself sitting in a different row than his girlfriend. While humorous, this anecdote shows how dedicated and dedicated fans are. Even where things didn't go that smoothly – for example, falling for fake tickets-most fans managed to feel the perfect vibe in the crowd. Each seat seemed to have electric currents buzzing when Diljit was finally on stage performing. The signature Punjabi beats and soulful melodies somehow connected each of us into one memory that each hour spent booking tickets wouldn't go to waste.
Taylor Swift to Diljit Dosanjh: Rising Demand for Experiential Travel and 'Gig Tripping'
What really caught my attention was the number of people who had traveled just to attend this concert. As concert popularity is on the rise, it is not a wonder that 'gig tripping' has become a common phenomenon; after all, fans go to city to city or country to country for live performances.
According to the leading visa processing platform, Atlys, there are many visa applications from followers of international artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Diljit Dosanjh.
This is a new trend in how traveling would be preferred by Millennials and Gen Z, mainly focused on experiences like music festivals and concerts rather than exploring the place. This is supported by a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which observes that more than 70% of travelers, especially the younger generations, now prefer experiences in cultural and entertainment sectors over material possessions.
Visa application numbers have increased by 20% after Taylor Swift came in the form of Eras Tour. Diljit, whose tour was announced a month ago, witnessed an astonishing hike of 10% application. This shows changes in travel and tourists, who travel only if a place has required events for a visit.
Delhi Travel Costs Surge with the Dil-Luminati Tour
The concert in Delhi perfectly fell within the festival season of Diwali holidays, when demand for travel skyrocketed. As fans like me and vacationers thronged the capital, flight ticket prices skyrocketed. Livemint reports that fares from cities like Mumbai to Delhi had increased up to 50%, and one-way tickets on concert day had soared between ₹11,000 and ₹12,000 against the usual ₹5,899 later in the month.
The price surge may be steep, but for fans, the concert had a pull that was bound to outweigh the extra expenditure on travel. For me, it was Diljit's concert on the eve of Diwali, a very memorable journey that paired in equal measure the joy of festive travel with the exhilaration of live music, and also a growing reality: today, travel has become more about moments and less about places.
Gig tourism' is gaining popularity and influence in the travel sector.
Visa applications, hotel bookings are becoming more impacted by concerts such as Diljit's, Skyscanner even said that local lodgings are booked nearly at 100% over the concert weekend. This is but one example of how music tours and cultural events are fast becoming significant travel motivators, thereby stimulating local economies. Concert-driven tourism is likely to stay, ushering in a new wave of tourism growth in cities.
Going back to my experience, I had thought that Diljit's Dil-Luminati Tour was going to be a great show; otherwise, it was going to open up the world of travel. It was never a case of visiting a new place or watching a concert for me; it was going to join two passions of mine in a very satisfying way. For all the people who are yet to try it out, my recommendation to them would be that go for your next destination considering the concerts, festivals, or events that attract them.
It is at this point that the phenomenon of Diljit's Delhi concert gained its actual momentum, where the live experience gave travel a personal narrative. After all, Delhi will always be remembered as an exciting destination for food, views, and energy, but for me, the city will always be linked in my mind with the cacophony of Diljit Dosanjh's voice in the sold-out stadium.
In a world where experiences are taking on an ever-growing role over possessions, 'gig tripping' is the ultimate means to infuse meaningful experiences into travel. So next time that favorite artist will be playing somewhere far, far from home, well, think about booking a ticket-there's one you're likely to not regret booking.