The UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships, held recently in Rotorua, had an economic impact of $33.5 million. Studies undertaken by Market Economics and Waiariki Institute of Technology show that the Championships generated $12.2m in direct new spend in Rotorua that would not have occurred otherwise. At a national level an additional $17.7m was attributed to the UCI MTB World Champs. Once the flow on effects are assessed total value added increases to $12.4m within the region while the contribution to GDP rises to $21.1m nationally.
The Waiariki Institute study estimated that visitors to the World Championships spend $2,712,533 per day in Rotorua and this did not include the spend by the competitors and those directly involved in the event.
“This is a great result” said event director, Arthur Klap. “The initial feasibility study, in 2001, estimated an economic impact around $9 million. It is a wonderful that the actual results have far exceeded this.”
Additional spend generated by the World Championships also sustained employment within the region and nationally. In total, the equivalent of 143 full time workers for a year was sustained by the direct spend in the Rotorua region. Nationally, the direct spend sustained the equivalent of 191 full time workers for a year. Once the flow on effects are accounted for this level of employment rose to the equivalent of 219 fulltime workers for a year in the region and 340 nationally.
Klap was delighted to learn that Rotorua benefited to such an extent and that there is likely to be a long term benefit from the event.
“More importantly, there was a great atmosphere throughout the week and Rotorua was able to promote itself on the world stage as a premiere mountain biking destination. This will drive future tourist dollars to the region.” Klap added.
An international television audience of 35.2 million viewed the more than 40 hours of world wide broadcast. In addition, a number of international mountain bike and cycling magazines have, on average, allocated 4 to 10 pages to the Rotorua event. These have included not just the race coverage but also articles and photos on Rotorua and the Whakarewarewa forest.
The New Zealand Community Trust sponsored UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships attracted 40,000 spectators over the six days, 538 riders from 36 countries and 1,818 accredited visitors, including 246 media. |
