An international cycling event hosted in East Suffolk was worth an estimated £600,000 to the local economy, according to study of visitor numbers and related expenditure.
Thousands of spectators attended the UCI Masters Cyclo-Cross World Championships between Friday 2 and Sunday 4 December.
The free event was supported by East Suffolk Council and staged at Trinity Park for the second successive year, featuring more than 600 competitors from 20 different nations, riding laps of a 3km circuit of trails and obstacles.
An evaluation report, commissioned by East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Growth Partnership, has since estimated the total net impact of the event on the local economy to be worth £601,850, based on the expenditure of participants, spectators, event organisers, contractors and staff.
Research found that about two-thirds of competitors (64%) visited from outside Suffolk and stayed overnight; with most of those polled (79%) rating their visit highly or very highly, three-quarters (77%) likely to recommend the county as a place to visit, and about two thirds (65%) likely or very likely to visit again in the future.
Meanwhile, the total combined net impact of expenditure by participants and the weekend’s estimated 6,000 spectators was £499,238, according to the research, including accommodation, food and drink, shopping, off-site entertainment and transport.
Combined with total net spend by staff contracted by the event organisers, either directly or indirectly, and total net expenditure associated with the organisation of the event, the overall net impact on the Suffolk economy was estimated to be £601,850.As well as Olympians, national champions […]
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