News

Valencia Marathon surpasses its pre-pandemic figures, generating a tourist spending of 27 million in 2022, 13% more than in 2019

El nuevo informe de impacto económico de la Maratón Valencia, elaborado por el Ivie, incluye el análisis del impacto fiscal del evento, que cifra en 9 millones los euros recaudados en impuestos para las arcas públicas

After two years of limitations imposed by COVID-19, not only has the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon 2022 returned back to normal, but it has also managed to surpass the pre-pandemic economic impact figures of 2019. The event, held without restrictions on 4 December 2022, left a tourist spending of 27 million euros (€26,852,359) in Valencia and surrounding areas, which represents an increase of 12.8% in real terms compared to the 2019 edition of the race.

This significant increase can be explained by the strong participation of international runners who, for the first time, outnumbered Spanish runners. In 2022, 14,400 of total runners were from other countries, i.e., 52% versus 35% in 2019. Participants from other countries generate a higher individual expenditure, with an average daily spending of €136, compared to €116 spent by Spanish runners.

According to the economic impact report carried out by the Ivie, the organizers invested a total of 5.8 million euros on the Marathon, 3.4% more than in the 2019 edition of the race, which means that for every euro spent on the event, there was a return of €4.6 in spending incurred by the runners and their guests during their stay in Valencia, a clear indicator of the multiplier effect that the marathon has on the Valencian economy.

In sum, 5.8 million euros were spent on organizing the 2022 Valencia Marathon, of which 41% was incurred by sponsors, 48% from registration fees and 11% by other fees and public funds from the Valencia City Council, co-organizer of the event with Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos.

The total expenditure associated with the organization and participants and their companions was 32,7 million euros, which generated an overall economic impact on the Valencian region of 58.6 million euros. This translates into a real impact on the income of the Valencian Community (wages, salaries and return on GDP) of 17.4 million euros in 2022, 5.2% more compared to 2019. Therefore, for every euro spent on the event, €3 of income (GDP) have been generated in the Valencian economy. It also produced an important impact on employment which equated to the creation of 571 full-time jobs per year, 9% more than in the 2019 edition.

Fiscal impact: 9 million euros in taxes

The latest Ivie report also includes an analysis of the fiscal impact of the Marathon, since both the expenses associated with its organization and the money spent by runners and their guests increase tax revenue through taxes and social security contributions, both directly, as expenditure subject to different types of taxes, and indirectly and induced, through increased productive activity and consumption in the region. In sum, the event contributed with 9 million euros in tax collection, which means that for every euro spent on organizing the event, 1.5 million euros were collected in taxes. From the 9 million euros in revenue collected by the public administrations, 11.7% are taxes borne and/or collected directly by the organizing committee, while the remaining amount is generated indirectly and induced by the initial expenditure and by the arrival of runners and their companions.

According to the director of the study, Joaquín Maudos, “for another consecutive year, the Marathon has been consolidated as a major tourist attraction in the city of Valencia and it has an increasing economic impact that translates into more income and employment for Valencia and revenue for the public coffers, since for every euro spent on staging the event, €3 of income are obtained, which is clear evidence of the social profitability of holding the Marathon in Valencia”.