Independent Festivals Contributed £1bn To UK Economy Over Three Years

George Harrison – Shambala 2017
One of AIF’s member festivals

The Association Of Independent Festivals (AIF) today published survey findings, which state that UK independent festivals contributed £1 billion ($1.3 billion) to the country’s economy between 2014 and 2017.

The numbers are based on reports by AIF’s 65 member festivals, according to which audiences spent more than £386 million ($502 million) in 2017, with £34.7 million of that being spent in the local area of the festival they attended.

Some 800,000 people attended 65 AIF member festivals last year, making it an average spend of £483.14 ($629) per head.

According to a statement released by AIF, the new £1 billion figure shows growth in it members’ contribution to the national economy. It had previously taken AIF festivals four years, 2010-2014, to reach that sum.

Since 2009, when AIF’s spend tracking began, audience spend per head has increased by around one third, from £364.17 in 2009 to £483.14 in 2017.

Over the same period, the amount spent on festival tickets increased modestly by 20.6 percent, from £154.09 in 2009 to £185.89 in 2017.

Meanwhile, spending on accommodation more than doubled from £24.23 per head in 2009 to £54.59 in 2017; spending on food and drink has risen 40.5 percent; and off-site spending, i.e. the money festival goers spend to get ready for an event, went up from £19.93 per head in 2009 to £32.61 in 2017.

The full report can be found here.

AIF CEO Paul Reed said: “That AIF member festivals have contributed another £1 billion to the UK economy – and at a much faster rate than the last billion – shows just how healthy the independent festival market is right now and how quickly it is growing.

“Not only are these independent festivals providing music fans with fantastic experiences, they are thriving businesses that the country can be proud of, and they are helping support the many other businesses around their sites that festival-goers make use of every year.

“We are very proud to be celebrating AIF’s 10th anniversary this year. Our special 10-year report is full of insightful statistics, trends and information that show how far our community has come and where we need to aim our lights on the road ahead.”

The survey findings are part of the association’s 10-year report, which was published at the AIF Festival Congress in Sheffield, Nov. 6.

It contains a wide range of facts and figures informed by some 30,000 responses to the organization’s annual surveys, including stats and trends around transport, camping, social media and crime. 

Across the ten year period, when asked about the single most important factor influencing  ticket  purchases, an average 53 percent of people said that it was the “atmosphere, vibe, character and quality of event.”