Music tourism is a lucrative industry for many regions of the world, and it refers to people traveling to a new area in order to attend a music show or concert, or even a larger festival. When people purchase tickets to go to a festival or show, particularly one they will have to travel to see, they are then more likely to spend additional money in the local economy. For instance, it might be necessary to purchase gas for the car, make reservations in a hotel room, and buy food to eat at local restaurants. For these reasons and others, many areas are now recognizing the value of music tourism.
Bands on tour are some of the most common sources of music tourism. Local people will often go out and spend money to see a concert if one or more of their favorite bands comes to town. People who are especially devoted fans sometimes follow bands around the country, or will travel to see a band play in a favorite location. All of this behavior offers benefits to the local economy and can be a great source of revenue. If people especially enjoy their time spent in an area, they may come back for a visit later on, even if a concert is not happening.
Music festivals are another huge aspect of music tourism. These are even better for the local economy, often because they span a few days or at least a weekend. In addition, music festivals will typically include more than one band, increasing the possibility that people will want to attend. Some cities or regions decide to capitalize on the extra people in town for a music festival and will hold other events concurrently, such as food festivals or other community events that can generate extra revenue. Likewise, some cities are culturally associated with a particular style of music, thereby attracting performers and fans alike on an almost constant basis.
The music tourism industry exists for virtually all types of music, though rock music is the most popular. More and more independent bands are now going on tour, however, particularly in smaller venues in cities. This offers even small business owners the opportunity to earn some extra income from the music tourism industry; for instance, smaller restaurants and coffee shops, or bars, make great places for up and coming musicians to play, and can often bring in a great deal of income for just one show. As long as the music is matched to the preferences of the clientele that frequents the establishment, it can be a great revenue boost.