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The 2019 Valencia Marathon hits a new economic impact record in tourism spending of 23 million euros, 29% more than 2018
The economic impact report developed by the Ivie reveals that for every euro spent on the event, there was a payback of €4.2 in tourism expenditure in Valencia and surrounding areas
According to the economic impact study carried out by the Ivie, the 2019 Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP Marathon, held on 1 December 2019, generated nearly 23 million euros in tourism spending in Valencia, a 29% increase over last year’s edition. The organizers invested a total of 5,406,657 euros, which means that for every euro spent on the event, there was a return of 4.2 euros in spending incurred by the runners and their guests during their stay in Valencia.
The 2019 Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP Marathon and 10K race held on the same day, had 32,589 more runners than in the previous edition, which represents a 4% increase. Also worth highlighting is the 22% increase in international runners as compared to 2018. Spending incurred by these runners and their guests amounted to 23 million euros, of which 42.6% went to accommodation, 31.4% to food, 9.5% to transport, 9.3% to shopping expenses, and the rest was spent on leisure and other activities.
In sum, a total of 5.4 million was spent on organizing the Marathon, of which 67% was incurred by sponsors, 26% from registration fees and 4% by others fees, in addition to nearly 3% from public funds from the Valencia City Council, co-organizer of the event with Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos. From these figures, it is deduced that the event not only has a positive economic outcome for the city but that the cost of putting on a marathon is low considering its effect on GDP and employment.
The Marathon produced an economic impact on the Valencian region of 15.9 million euros in terms of income (wages and salaries, and return on GDP), a 20.5% increase compared to last year’s edition. It also produced an important impact on employment which equated to the creation of 524 full-time jobs a year, 22.1% more than the previous year.
The report also includes the results of a race satisfaction survey carried out among 6,229 participants. According to the survey, 75% of the runners classified it as an outstanding race, giving it an overall score of 8.9 out of 10 points, compared to 8.8 points in 2018.
The report was presented on 28 February 2020 by two of its authors, the Ivie researchers, Joaquín Maudos and Joaquín Aldás. Also present at the event were Paco Borao and Juan Botella, president and manager of the Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos, respectively; Elena Tejedor, director of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation; Pilar Bernabé, Valencia City Sports Councilor; and Emiliano García, Valencia City Councilor for Tourism.
