Foreign fans alone managed to contribute a massive £3.1billion to the UK economy last year, as a result of music tourism.
Around 9.5 million people travelled to music concerts and festivals in 2014, which means that between 2011 and 2014, the number of music tourists in the UK has increased by 34%. This increase has helped to generate £3.1 billion in direct and indirect spend.
Jo Dipple, CEO of UK Music, said: “The UK’s rich music heritage and infrastructure has made the UK the go-to destination for live music globally and these statistics show how tourism is now a bedrock of British music and the wider economy.”
The number of tourists from overseas travelling over here to attend music events has also seen a rise, up by 39%. On average, each tourist spends £751 that goes directly to British businesses. According to the report, the number of full time jobs sustained by music tourism in the UK has risen by 57% from the figure of 24,521 in 2012, to 38,238 in 2014.
Chairman of UK Music, Andy Heath, said:
“More international music tourists are coming to the UK and more Brits are travelling further afield to gigs. The average spend by international music tourists has increased by 13% during this period, while the total exports have grown by less than 2%. If we want an export-led recovery, we need music tourists to keep coming to the UK.”
John Whittingdale, the Culture Secretary, also added:
“It’s fantastic news that our music industry drew in 9.5 million tourists last year but it’s no surprise. British music is legendary around the world and continues to go from strength to strength, with UK artists now accounting for one in seven albums sold worldwide. Festivals like Glastonbury hold an iconic status on the world music scene and are one of the reasons why international tourism is booming in the UK, drawing in streams of visitors to all parts of the country.”
