<article>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502585" name="segment-502585" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2></h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><i>Follow us on <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/saysdotcom/">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saysdotcom">TikTok</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VZzynzi6RGJG0QbRfy3O">WhatsApp</a> for the latest stories and breaking news.</i></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502586" name="segment-502586" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has claimed that Taylor Swift&#8217;s decision to make <a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/malaysians-react-taylor-swift-performing-singapore-none-malaysia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singapore the sole stop</a> in the Southeast Asian region for her ongoing _The Eras Tour_ was due to an exclusive deal</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>According to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/2743369">Bangkok Post</a>, Srettha said the global concert promoter, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), informed him that the Singaporean government had allegedly signed an exclusive deal with Swift.</p>
<p>AEG allegedly informed him that the Singaporean government financially supported Swift&#8217;s concerts, <b>offering between USD2 million (RM9.5 million) and USD3 million (RM14.3 million) per show in exchange for exclusivity in Southeast Asia</b>.</p>
<p>&#8220;If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand,&#8221; said Srettha last Friday, 16 February.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1220108/48eb.png" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin." rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1220108" alt="Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin." src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1220108/48eb.png"> </a>
                </div>
<p class="img-caption">Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/2743369" rel="noopener">Government House via Bangkok Post</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502605" name="segment-502605" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>The prime minister explained that an exclusive deal with Swift was worth the cost, considering it would draw foreign concertgoers to visit Thailand and boost local economy</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>Srettha said he had spoken with AEG executives and assured them of his administration&#8217;s readiness to offer tax incentives and other attractive measures to attract mega concerts and world-class festivals to Thailand.</p>
<p>The <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2024/02/1015018/showbiz-thailand-follow-singapore-subsidising-taylor-swift-concerts">New Straits Times</a>, citing a local report, noted that the Thai government plans to subsidise concerts, such as Swift&#8217;s, with <b>THB500 million (RM66.5 million)</b> to attract more fans to Thailand.</p>
<p>&#8220;This will boost sponsorship and tourism in Thailand. And it is not only Taylor Swift but also other international recording artistes with a strong following.</p>
<p>&#8220;If we want the likes of <b>Swift, Beyonce, and Coldplay</b> to perform in Thailand, we have to provide great incentives for their concerts to happen,&#8221; said Srettha.</p>
<p>Other than Thailand, Indonesia will also turn to &#8216;Swiftonomics&#8217; to boost tourism spending, reported <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2024/02/19/indonesia-will-turn-to-swiftonomics-to-boost-tourism-spending/">FMT</a>.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1220109/9dce.png" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="Swift performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, US." rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1220109" alt="Swift performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, US." src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1220109/9dce.png"> </a>
                </div>
<p class="img-caption">Swift performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, US.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/17/Taylor-Swift-film-Eras-Tour-concert-Cruel-Summer/" rel="noopener">The Harvard Crimson</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502606" name="segment-502606" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Swift is set to perform for six nights at the 55,000-seat <a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/marina-bay-sands-now-selling-taylor-swift-concert-ticket-bundles-worth-the-price-of-a-car" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Stadium in Singapore</a> from 2 March to 9 March</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2023/10/30/taylor-swift-didnt-need-lucrative-side-hustles-to-become-a-billionaire/?sh=321a8b9f7d1b">Forbes</a>&nbsp;estimated that the Pennsylvania-born songstress has a net worth of USD1.1 billion (RM5.2 billion), while <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://time.com/6307420/taylor-swift-eras-tour-money-economy/">Time</a>&nbsp;described Swift&#8217;s concerts as having the potential to bring staggering positive economic impact on the locales.</p>
<p>Last Friday, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-15/taylor-swift-eras-tour-to-boost-australia-economy?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;reported that Swift is expected to generate AUD1.2 billion (RM3.7 billion) in economic value for Melbourne alone.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502612" name="segment-502612" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Meanwhile, did you know that you can&#8217;t use Taylor Swift&#8217;s songs on TikTok anymore?</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67449/f110.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/tech/cant-use-taylor-swift-billie-eilish-other-universal-music-artistes-songs-tiktok" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/tech/cant-use-taylor-swift-billie-eilish-other-universal-music-artistes-songs-tiktok" class="ga-curator-related">You Can&#8217;t Use Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish &#038; Other UMG Artistes&#8217; Songs On TikTok Anymore</a></h6>
<p>In a statement late Tuesday, 30 January, TikTok said Universal Music put &#8220;greed above the interests of their artistes and songwriters&#8221;.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-502613" name="segment-502613" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Here are more <a href="https://says.com/my/stories/tagged/concert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#concert</a> stories on SAYS:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67564/829c.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/malaysia-coldplay-wristband-recycling-rate-kl-concert" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/malaysia-coldplay-wristband-recycling-rate-kl-concert" class="ga-curator-related">1 Out Of 10 Malaysians Didn&#8217;t Return Their Wristbands After Coldplay&#8217;s Concert In KL</a></h6>
<p>But we still did better than Bangkok, Manila, and Jakarta!</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67518/4a2d.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/all-time-low-is-coming-to-malaysia-this-april" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/all-time-low-is-coming-to-malaysia-this-april" class="ga-curator-related">All Time Low Is Coming To Malaysia This April</a></h6>
<p>Dear Malaysia, count me in.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67219/384f.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/penang-mufti-says-sorry-for-his-criticism-against-siti-nurhaliza-s-concert-date" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/penang-mufti-says-sorry-for-his-criticism-against-siti-nurhaliza-s-concert-date" class="ga-curator-related">Penang Mufti Says Sorry For His Criticism Against Siti Nurhaliza&#8217;s Concert Date</a></h6>
<p>Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said that he wasn&#8217;t questioning the intentions of the concert organisers and was only concerned with the concert date, which would be a couple of days before Ramadan.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>


Thai PM Claims Taylor Swift Is Skipping Other ASEAN Nations Due To Exclusive Deal With SG

<article>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501701" name="segment-501701" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2></h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><i>Follow us on <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/saysdotcom/" title="Link: https://www.instagram.com/saysdotcom/">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saysdotcom">TikTok</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VZzynzi6RGJG0QbRfy3O">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;for the latest stories and breaking news.</i></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501708" name="segment-501708" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Malaysians and tourists can expect to pay more for hotel stays once the new Sales and Service Tax (SST) rate comes into effect in March</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1218173/fa09.jpg" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh." rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1218173" alt="Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh." src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1218173/fa09.jpg"> </a>
                </div>
<p class="img-caption">Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://hotels.org.my/article/39096-motacs-workshop-on-hotel-apartments-criterion" rel="noopener">Malaysian Association of Hotels</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><p>According to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/13/hotels-say-prices-expected-to-increase-by-up-to-30pc-following-sst-hike-to-8pc-this-year/117740">Malay Mail</a>, Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh said <b>hotel prices are expected to increase by 10% to 30%, following the SST rate rise <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/news/anwar-govt-to-increase-service-tax-from-6-to-8">from 6% to 8%</a> on 1 March.</b></p>
<p>Nevertheless, Toh remains optimistic about tourism, citing ongoing promotions and government support, such as visa exemptions for tourists from specific countries.</p>
<p>She added that, despite the price hike, Malaysia still has one of the lowest hotel room rates among the ASEAN countries.</p>
<p>&#8220;The increase has no effect. That is one of the reasons why we want to attract more foreign tourists to our country because our prices are still reasonable,&#8221; she said.</p>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501710" name="segment-501710" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel expects hotel prices to soar up to 50%</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><p>He stressed <b>the domino effect of the new SST rate on the entire hotel supply chain</b>, impacting costs of cleaning services, utilities, and transportation.</p>
<p>To ensure business sustainability, hotel owners may be forced to raise prices, he said.</p>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1218272/428d.jpg" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="Image for illustration purposes only." rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1218272" alt="Image for illustration purposes only." src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1218272/428d.jpg"> </a>
                </div>
<p class="img-caption">Image for illustration purposes only.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/modern-studio-apartment-design-with-bedroom-living-space_2448708.htm" rel="noopener">katemangostar/Freepik</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501747" name="segment-501747" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Meanwhile, a local hotel owner said they definitely plan to raise room prices due to increased charges imposed by suppliers</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><p>Ridel Boutique Hotel owner Aiman Wasa told <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.sinardaily.my/article/215475/hotel-prices-to-increase-following-sales-tax-hike-industry-reactions-differ" title="Link: https://www.sinardaily.my/article/215475/hotel-prices-to-increase-following-sales-tax-hike-industry-reactions-differ">Sinar Daily</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<b>suppliers have started to send notices of raised prices by up to 20% starting 1 March.</b></p>
<p>&#8220;Room prices must go up. If suppliers raise prices, we also must do the same; this does not include an increase in water tariff rates.</p>
<p>&#8220;Competition in this business is very high, but we cannot raise prices too high.</p>
<p>&#8220;That is one of the reasons why many hotel businesses are closed.</p>
<p>&#8220;When prices go up, there are no customers, and when prices are not raised, costs go up,&#8221; he said.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501716" name="segment-501716" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Malaysians can also expect to pay more for online services starting March:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67544/c397.png&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/tech/digital-services-sst-hike" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/tech/digital-services-sst-hike" class="ga-curator-related">Netflix, Steam, And 5 Other Digital Services You Use May Soon See An SST Price Hike</a></h6>
<p>The tax rate on digital services will be raised from 6% to 8% on 1 March.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501748" name="segment-501748" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the SST increase during the tabling of Budget 2024 last year:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/65061/6742.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/anwar-govt-to-increase-service-tax-from-6-to-8" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/anwar-govt-to-increase-service-tax-from-6-to-8" class="ga-curator-related">#Budget2024: Your Karaoke Sessions Are Gonna Get Costlier</a></h6>
<p>This is due to a 2% increase in service tax as announced in the Budget 2024.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-501711" name="segment-501711" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Read more recent news on SAYS:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://storage.googleapis.com/says_image_uploader/uploads/temp/New_Project__31_.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/a-light-aircraft-crashed-near-a-klang-primary-school" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/a-light-aircraft-crashed-near-a-klang-primary-school" class="ga-curator-related">[VIDEO] A Light Aircraft Crashed Near A Klang Primary School</a></h6>
<p>An eyewitness claimed to have heard a loud bang while he was home.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://storage.googleapis.com/says_image_uploader/uploads/temp/cover88_4copy.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/family-meets-racist-vendor-refuses-to-sell-ice-cream-to-indians" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/family-meets-racist-vendor-refuses-to-sell-ice-cream-to-indians" class="ga-curator-related">Family Meets Racist Vendor Who Refuses To Sell Ice Cream To Indians</a></h6>
<p>&#8220;My aunt went to buy ice cream, and you know what he said? He said he doesn&#8217;t sell ice cream to Indians,&#8221; said the TikTok user.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://storage.googleapis.com/says_image_uploader/uploads/temp/Your_paragraph_text__97_.png&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/makan/difference-between-genuine-fake-honey" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/makan/difference-between-genuine-fake-honey" class="ga-curator-related">90% Of Honey In Malaysia Is Fake? Here&#8217;s A Guide On How To Check If Your Honey Is Genuine</a></h6>
<p>Don&#8217;t fall for the fake stuff!</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>


Hotel Prices Expected To Increase Up To 30% Due To SST Hike This Year