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Issue 41 July/August 2011 £2.75
Call for live music plan after study By Christina Eccles UK Music has urged the government to implement a live music tourism strategy to increase overseas visitor numbers to Britain’s festivals and events, following a landmark study. The organisation, which represents the collective interests of the UK’s commercial music industry, has released the findings of Destination: Music – the first study of its kind to scope the economic contribution of music festivals and major concerts to tourism throughout the UK. By studying more than 2.5m ticketing transactions, the report – carried out by Bournemouth University’s International Centre for Hospitality and Tourism Research – found large-scale live music events across the UK attract at least 7.7m attendances by domestic and overseas music tourists, who collectively spend £1.4bn during the course of their trip. Although only five per cent of these visitors come from overseas, they contribute 18 per cent of the total spend and from these findings, UK Music has issued a list of recommendations to Government – including the implementation of a strategy, with the immediate goal of increasing the number of overseas
music tourists. Chief executive Feargal Sharkey said: “I am hugely excited by the findings of this research. Its message is crystal clear: music provides a huge boost to UK tourism, it drives growth, it sustains thousands of jobs across all regions and it enhances our lives. “I am optimistic that policy-makers will view this data and acknowledge there is even more we could achieve, especially when it comes to attracting overseas visitors. The rest of the world clearly recognises the importance of music to the UK. It is time we did similar.” The Association of Independent Festivals represents events all over the country including Bestival, Creamfields and the Belladrum Tartan Heart festival. General manager Claire O’Neill added: “The UK Music research has set out and achieved filling a gap in knowledge as to what the economic and tourism impact of music festivals and concerts is in the UK. “We are very happy to see the depth and detailed look into the impact festivals have regionally as well as nationally, and are very supportive of the work that UK Music are doing to represent this sector to Government.”
Holiday money prompts 2nd job
The National Trust has launched a new movie map to help film fans follow in the footsteps of their favourite stars. The downloadable map showcases Trust properties used as filming locations including Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire where sections of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed and Antony in Cornwall, seen in box office hit Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, pictured. Full story, Page 3
INCREASING numbers of Brits are taking on second jobs to ensure they don’t miss out on their summer holiday this year, new research has claimed. In the last six months, freelance jobs specialist PeoplePerHour.com has seen a 90 per cent rise in the number of second job workers and over the last 12 months, the figure is up 177 per cent. The company claims that as the cost of living rises, more Britons are becoming worried they won’t be able to afford to go on holiday this year and are willing to work longer so they don’t miss out. CEO Xenios Thrasyvoulou said: “Instead of turning their back on the summer, more and more British people are summoning up the British spirit and working harder in order to play harder this summer. “Thousands of British people are now taking second jobs on PeoplePerHour.com and coming up with original ways to earn money in order to make the most of what looks set to be the best British summer on record.”