U.K. Music Tourism Worth £3.1 Billion

A report by industry body UK Music also said foreign visitors spent an average of £751 and helped sustain almost 40,000 full-time jobs. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the news was “fantastic” but not surprising as “British music is legendary around the world.” Music tourism in the UK has increased by 34 percent in the last four years, with 546,000 million foreign visitors travelling to music events in the UK during the last year.

“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,” said UK Music chief exec Jo Dipple.

The report provides detailed evidence of the direct impact that music events and this new influx of fans have within every region of the UK, as well as practical examples of some of the many festivals, venues and companies that are helping to support this booming music tourism industry.

The main festival attractions include Glastonbury, Isle of Wight Festival, and Scotland’s T In The Park. UK Music published “Wish You Were Here 2015,” an economic study that reveals the vast contribution of music tourism to the UK economy, June 17.