Edinburgh Festivals 2015 Impact Study

Have a look at this great independent research that confirms the huge contribution that Edinburgh’s Festivals make to the quality of life, international reputation and economic vitality of Edinburgh and Scotland.

The latest study, which surveyed 29,000 people, shows that Edinburgh’s Festivals continue to be Scotland’s world-leading cultural brands, delivering significant attendance numbers through their unrivalled cultural programmes.

Key findings from the study show that Edinburgh’s Festivals:

• Attract audiences of more than 4.5 million putting them on a par with the FIFA World Cup, both being second to the Olympic Games
• Act as economic powerhouses generating impact of £280m in Edinburgh and £313m in Scotland, representing an increase of 19% and 24% respectively on the previous 2010 study, and primarily benefiting businesses in the tourism sector
• Serve as tourism gateways, with more nights spent elsewhere in Scotland by festival audiences than in the 2010 study
• Position the city region as a leading international destination with 94% of respondents stating that the Festivals are part of what makes Edinburgh special as a city
• Present unique cultural experiences with 92% of respondents stating that the Festivals were ‘must see’ events that gave them the chance to see things they would not otherwise see
• Play a crucial role in year-round audience development, with 68% of respondents stating that attending the Festivals made them more likely to attend another cultural event
• Create a sense of civic pride with 89% of local festival goers agreeing that the Festivals increased their pride in Edinburgh as a city, reinforcing the findings of the recent Edinburgh People Survey
• Deliver quality professional Festivals, with satisfaction ratings of 95% – being the highest rated outcome in the entire study.
• Commissioned by Edinburgh’s Festivals, the 2015 Impact Study was produced by leading international specialists BOP Consulting and builds on the 2010 Impact Study.