People love music and they also love to travel. According to luxuo.com, music tourism has seen rapid growth in the last couple of years as a growing number of travellers specifically millennial (born between 1981 and 1996) and gen Z (born from 1997 to 2012) travellers, prioritise travel governed by cultural and significant events, including music festivals and concerts.
In short, music tourism can be defined as the act of visiting a city or town, to see a music festival or other music performances or even visiting a destination or resort known for unforgettable party experiences.
The website highlighted that more than half of gen Zs (56%) and millennials (60%) planned to travel for a music festival this year, showing that these travellers prioritise experiences over material items.
Flight Centre South Africa revealed that the music tourism travel trend is here to stay as data shows that concerts are impacting the entire travel industry with hotel bookings surging and local economies getting a boost.
Events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Coldplay’s Spheres Tour and Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour have proven their substantial impact on search and booking volumes for destinations featured on tour schedules.
Recently, celebrity couple Dr Musa Mthombeni and Liesel Laurie hopped on the trend and were spotted in Germany celebrating their anniversary at Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” while media personalities Somizi Mhlongo and Moshe Ndiki were also seen seen living it up in Ibiza, a world-famous party destination, where South Africa’s DJ Black Coffee frequently plays.
It’s clear that young travellers have an appetite for travelling and having a jol, whilst at it.
If you’re looking for a getaway that guarantees you a good time, these are the best local and international destinations to add to your once in a lifetime travel bucket list.
1. Ibiza, Spain
Known as the party capital of the world, Ibiza is one of the Balearic islands, an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.
It’s well known for the lively nightlife in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, where major European nightclubs have summer outposts.
It’s also home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches, from Platja d’en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by pine-clad hills found all around the coast.
Ibiza season runs from the end of April to late October (spring to summer). If you are looking to party or planning a relaxed gateway, visit the island during these months as there are plenty of events happening and the temperatures are high.
2. Portimão, The Algarve Portugal
The Algarve is the ultimate pick for travellers, who like their booze and dance. From Faro, the capital of the Algarve, to the famous towns of Albufeira, Portimão and Vilamoura travellers will find a cosmopolitan vibe where the nightlife lasts till early morning.
The nightlife in Portimão is mainly concentrated around Praia da Rocha and, after a perfect day on the beach and a full stomach, travellers can choose from the many bars, ranging from trashy to trendy.
There is never a dull moment in Praia da Rocha and the best thing about it is that it hardly requires any effort to have a good night out as this relatively small area has bars within walking distance.
Portimão is also the host of Afro Nation, an annual three-day music festival with performances bringing together the best African artists in Afrobeats, hip hop, R ‘n’ B, dancehall, gqom, amapiano and more.
3. Thailand
According to World Nomads, Thailand’s nightlife is world-renowned with visitors flocking from around the globe to revel at its beach bars, rooftop pubs, and thumping nightclubs.
The destination is also popular due to its affordability for most travellers and is also notorius for it’s Full Moon parties where a few young travellers (up to 20,000) gather every month on a beach on a remote Thai island (Koh Pha-Ngan) and dance the night away in front of a strip of bars and clubs pumping out dance music.
Most recently, Yona Beach Club in Phuket has become popular among young travellers.
The Beach Club is a truly one-of-a-kind floating Beach Club and decadent oasis in the heart of paradise and built on a multi-level boat designed to accommodate guests in comfort.
It offers a wide range of amenities for a truly unforgettable experience: three floors, one Beach club, a restaurant, four bars and two pools.
4. Cape Town, Durban & Johannesburg, South Africa
South Africa has a vibrant nightlife and all the major cities offer something different. From beach bar clubs in Cape Town to rooftop nightcaps in Sandton and township experiences in Durban, South Africa has it all.
As a musical destination, Mzansi is also the home of amapiano, kwaito, and gqom. Due to the country’s love for music, it hosts parties and festivals year-round however in all province but the best time to visit the country is from spring to summer and specifically December.
In spring, Cape Town kicks off the party season and hosts events such as Rocking the Daisies. The Daisies, as its known, is a three-day music and lifestyle festival taking place in October.
Durban, also known as the warmest place to be and Africa’s playground, is an awarded winning destination with plenty of festivals to enjoy throughout, including Anywhere In Your City, Fact Durban Rocks and Gagasi Beach Fest, while Johannesburg is known for offering the best in township experiences and township nightlife at places including Zone 6 Venue in Soweto and the Meat Lounge.
5. Swaziland
The Malkerns Valley in Swaziland is transformed into a music and arts world stage. Picture: Unsplash
Once a year, usually from the end of May to the beginning of June, young travellers set out to the Malkerns Valley in Swaziland for the MTN Bushfire Festival.
MTN Bushfire is one of Africa’s largest multicultural gatherings, illuminating the transformational power of the arts in bringing about positive social and environmental change.
Bushfire is a diverse, inclusive and family-friendly music and arts festival set in the beautiful farmland and mountains of the peaceful Malkerns Valley.
Every year, Fire Starters from over 60 countries head to the valley for an energising and uplifting weekend, with an eclectic programme featuring some of the finest musical and artistic talents from across Africa and around the globe.
