<![CDATA[This study examines Singapore’s public diplomacy strategy in securing exclusive hosting rights for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Southeast Asia in March 2024 and its implications for soft power competition and ASEAN regional relations. Using a qualitative design combining Qualitative Document Analysis (QDA) and process tracing, the study analyzes government documents, institutional statements, tourism data, economic reports, and relevant scholarly literature. The findings indicate that Singapore integrated state financial support through the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), institutional coordination involving the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and world-class infrastructure to transform a commercial music event into an instrument of economic diplomacy and nation branding. The event generated substantial tourism and economic benefits while strengthening Singapore’s international image as a global entertainment hub. However, the exclusivity arrangement also generated diplomatic tensions with Thailand and the Philippines, revealing a paradox between national interests and ASEAN solidarity. The study conceptualizes this strategy as “mercantilist soft power,” demonstrating that event diplomacy can simultaneously enhance national attraction and intensify regional competition.]]>
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