When Swift brings her acclaimed "Eras Tour" to Singapore next March, Lukman will be one of the 300,000 fans, called "Swifties", in the audience for one of the six shows in the city state.

"I feel great, I’m stressed out, oh my God, I’m just overwhelmed! I don’t know what to think, indescribable, I’m very happy I got tickets! Yeah, woohoo!,” said Lukman.

But many "Swifties" across the region of more than half a billion couldn't get a ticket, partly as a result of a post-pandemic spike in demand for concerts and entertainment. The demand has led to rising prices that some economists have termed "Swiftflation".

Holders of UOB bank credit cards were given preferred access, prompting a 45 percent surge in daily credit card applications in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam the week Swift announced her concert dates, according to media.

Indonesian Friski Riana, 31, joined virtual queues of millions of fans, even borrowing her friend's credit card to try and get tickets.

"I waited for three hours but I failed to get a ticket," Friski said.

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