Economic impact survey 2007



1254325175_glastonbury1Picture by Sam Chung

A 2007 survey revealed that Glastonbury Festival impacts on the worldwide economy to the tune of more than £73million.

The figure was one of dozens featured in a report by Mendip District Council on the economic impact of the Somerset event.

This was the first study of its kind to be undertaken on the Festival, which was carried out by Bristol-based Baker Associates.

Its aim was to fully understand the economic effects of Glastonbury and help to support the planning of future years.

John Baker from Baker Associates said: “We were commissioned by Mendip District Council and Glastonbury Festivals to carry out the study, which is one of the first to focus on the overall economic impact of the Festival, and to improve understanding of its impacts on various areas of the local and regional economy. The study also reports on other areas that are linked to its impact on the economy, and how these issues can be looked at in the future to further build on the economic benefits that the Glastonbury Festival could bring to Mendip.”

The report gives the first detailed insight into the Festival – the largest of its kind in the UK – including the £73m gross impact it has on the UK and international economies.

The following points are just an insight into some of the figures revealed through the report:

* A crowd of 177,500 people attended the Glastonbury Festival in 2007, with an average spend per person of £293.24.
* Total spending at the Festival site in Pilton by revellers and traders was about £25.6million, and off-site spend was about £26.5million, giving a total spend of about £52million directly linked to the Festival.
* Estimated spending by Glastonbury Festivals associated with staging the 2007 Festival was £21.2million (over the period November 2006 to October 2007).
* Therefore the gross spend linked to the 2007 Glastonbury Festivals (including the Glastonbury Extravaganza and the Equinox ‘Pilton’ Party) was more than £73million.

Speaking at the press conference, held in Pilton’s Working Men’s Club, Cllr Harvey Siggs, leader of Mendip District Council, said: “We noticed in the year that we didn’t have a Festival that there was an economic impact in the area. So we decided last year to quantify the benefits. The report shows clearly the ripple effect from the local area right around the country.”

Dick Vernon, Trading Manager for Glastonbury Festival, added: “We’ve always said that the Festival had a big economic impact but we’ve never been able to prove it. Now we have an independent group who have come up with some staggering figures.”

Summing up proceedings, Michael Eavis said: “You only have to drive around Pilton to see the benefits. We’ve spent £880,000 on the village hall and built 18 houses, and we’d like to do a lot more.”

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