Piping Live! £12m boost to Scottish economy
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Wed 08 Aug 12 @ 16:45
The Piping Live! extravaganza will bag over £12million for Scotland's economy, say organisers.
More than 30,000 people will descend on Glasgow for the top event, which includes the World Championships.
The top tickets to watch piping's elite compete sold out in just two months - twice as fast as last year.
More than 150 other ticketed and free events are also taking place from August 6-11, including concerts, recitals, competitions, ceilidhs, free pipe band tasters at George Square and come and try sessions.
The festival will culminate with hundreds of pipe bands competing for the title of World Champions - with 50,000 spectators expected to attend the final on Saturday (August 11) at Glasgow Green.
"The Worlds" generate about £10m for the Scottish economy and this year participants are travelling from 15 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, Estonia, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and England.
Three quarters of those attending come from outwith Glasgow and more than a quarter from overseas. Piping Live! is expecting to pull in an additional £2.1m in tourism revenue.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce deputy chief executive Richard Muir said: "Piping Live! - is a tremendous asset for the city's economy, further raising our international profile. With a large percentage of the tens of thousands of people attending the festival travelling here from overseas, the event generates significant revenues for Glasgow's renowned offer of world-class hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars.
"In particular, it allows Glasgow to showcase its very best chefs and restaurants, such as via the Gourmet Glasgow Dine Around Restaurant Showcase initiative. At Glasgow Chamber we enjoy a tremendous view of the George Square element of the festival and we look forward hearing the world's best pipe bands."
Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "Piping Live! and The World Pipe Band Championships are the highlights of Glasgow's cultural calendar over the summer.
"They draw visitors from across the UK and overseas, and generate significant local economic benefit. Glasgow City Marketing Bureau has a marketing campaign involving TV, radio, print and outdoor and public relations activity across Scotland, Ireland and France. It is geared at showcasing just what an amazing spectacle both these events are."
For more information and to buy tickets see the website: www.seeglasgow.com/piping
