The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has released a study claiming that its 31 member festivals attracted 480,000 people in the UK this summer, spending an average of £461 per person on travel, accomodation, food and drink, and entertainment at the events. AIF reckons this adds up to a £222 million contribution to the UK economy from these festivals, and £17 million to local businesses. The spend-per-person is growing too: going from £408 in 2008 to £438.24 in 2010 and now £461 in 2011.
We wonder if there’s a fall coming though: the flip-side of people having spent more and more on festivals in recent years is surely a risk that they will start to see them as too expensive if spooked by the wider economic woes? AIF says that only 54.9% of its members said their events were hit by the recession, but 2012’s figures will be interesting to see.
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