Edinburgh’s winter festivals were worth almost £200m

Edinburgh’s winter festivals were worth almost £200m to the city last year, despite the cancellation of the outdoor Hogmanay events, according to a new report.

Research published by events organiser Unique Assembly found more than 2.8 million people visited Edinburgh’s seasonal attractions, which included an ice rink, Christmas market and a funfair.

Outdoor events including the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and the midnight fireworks were cancelled on 31 December due to worsening weather conditions, days after the torchlight procession was cancelled amid high winds.

Indoor Hogmanay events went ahead with an estimated audience of more than 25,000 people over four days.

The report found the total economic impact of Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals was £198m, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh’s Christmas (£150m) and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (£48m).

The report is going to the City of Edinburgh Council’s culture committee next week.

Unique Assembly’s Alan Thomson said: “We take a lot of heart from this report that, even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay to weather, the winter festivals have still delivered.”

He added that they were working on next year’s programme.

An annual audience survey of more than 3,000 people found more than 70% of visitors from outside the city cited Edinburgh’s Christmas as their main reason for travelling to Scotland’s capital.

Margaret Graham, Edinburgh City Council culture and communities convener, said: “The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh’s world-famous winter festivals don’t only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city’s vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh’s local communities, businesses and charities.

“This is despite the cancellation of last year’s outdoor events, showing just how far-reaching the programme of events is.