An investigation into the economic impact of Edinburgh?s summer festivals has revealed that together they provide 2,900 full-time jobs and inject £135m each year into the Scottish economy.
These findings form the first part of a year-long study to assess the economic benefits of Edinburgh?s festivals on the city, the region, and Scotland as a whole. Ten festivals were involved in the first stage of the study including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe, and the Book, Film and TV Festivals. The report is based on a survey of festival attenders and hotel owners, as well as journalists, promoters and participants. It estimates that the summer festivals generate a combined £127m of new expenditure in Edinburgh itself, and the net overall economic output generated in Scotland is calculated as being £135m. Nearly two- thirds of the 850,000 visitors to Edinburgh?s summer festivals last year said that the festivals were their main reason for visiting the city. Eighty percent of these visitors and 90% of Edinburgh hotel proprietors felt that the economic impact of the festivals was increased by being staged simultaneously, from late July to early September.
The report highlights the disparity in income generation between the different festivals. In 2004, by far the largest contribution to the Scottish economy was made by the Fringe Festival, which generated £74.8m of expenditure in Scotland as a whole. Paul Gudgin, Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said, ?The results of this report clearly demonstrate how important the festivals are to Edinburgh and Scotland and underline how important it is for the festivals to continue working together and in partnership with the main agencies to maintain our pre-eminent position.?
The Edinburgh International Festival is calculated as inputting £14.4m to the Scottish economy, but Director Brian McMaster was keen to look beyond the financial impact of the festivals: ?It is great news that the economic benefits of Edinburgh?s festivals are being recognised, but just as important are the life-enhancing experiences that people come to the festivals for. As the report points out, long-term success will also depend on continuing to enhance the quality of the programmes the festivals offer.?
The report, funded by Edinburgh City Council, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, VisitScotland and EventScotland, is part of a wider attempt to assess the significance of festivals to tourism in the country. The report will also add weight to the case currently being prepared by The Association of Edinburgh?s Festivals for increased support from the Scottish Executive and Scottish Arts Council, which has recently issued an invitation to tender for a consultant to prepare a study to identify ways to ?maintain Edinburgh?s competitive advantage as the leading Festivals City?.
Politicians and business leaders in Scotland are motivated by the potential the festivals have to project the image of a country that is culturally prosperous and with a high quality of life. The Scottish Executive is exploring ways of reversing the country?s declining population levels and is thought to be keen to use Edinburgh?s festivals as a means of attracting migration.