Taylor Swift's decision to skip Indonesia and Coldplay's limited concert schedule in the country have prompted the Indonesian government to take action. The country's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, acknowledged that factors such as complicated permit processes and high costs contributed to the artists' decisions.

In response, the tourism minister pledged to simplify the permit process by digitizing it. A pilot project is set to launch in September, aiming to streamline processes and avoid last-minute licensing decisions.

The Southeast Asian concert economy is a significant contributor to Indonesia's local economy, with around 3,000 events expected to contribute approximately 197 trillion Indonesian Rupiah ($13 trillion) this year. By improving efficiency through digitization, the country could potentially gain 17 trillion Indonesian Rupiah ($1.1 billion) in revenue.

Uno aims to reduce the time taken to issue permits for international events to 21 days and for national events to 14 days. This initiative will provide more breathing room for organizers compared to the current regime.

However, the Indonesian music scene is not without its challenges. A Muslim group, Persaudaraan Alumni (PA) 212, has called for the cancellation of Coldplay's concert in Jakarta due to the band's alleged pro-LGBT and atheist views, which they claim are against Indonesian values. Despite the backlash, officials assert that the Coldplay concert will proceed as planned.

Indonesian music enthusiasts are showing a keen interest in international concerts, with a record number of 200,000+ tickets sold for Coldplay's original four concerts in Singapore, leading to the addition of a fifth show. Taylor Swift's six-day performance in Singapore, her only stop in Southeast Asia, is also expected to attract a crowd of 330,000 fans.

The Indonesian government's efforts to simplify permit procedures and attract international artists demonstrate its commitment to boosting the concert economy and promoting cultural exchange through music and entertainment.