RICHARD MUIR
That the 2014 Commonwealth Games succeeded in its goal of boosting the economy and bringing jobs to the city can be seen in the latest Travel Trends data from the ONS, which show visits and spending by international tourists have risen to their highest-ever level - up 20% in volume and 30% in spend.
Glasgow’s tourism action plan targets an extra million visitors to the city by 2023, bringing thousands of jobs, and sport continued to deliver strong economic benefit to the city via the just-ended 2018 European Championships.
The Championships brought more than 8000 athletes, officials and media to the city, supported by a £750k cultural programme. It’s estimated over a million people engaged directly in the Championships in sporting and cultural events and up to a billion viewers watched across all digital channels.
TV viewing figures were especially strong in Germany and France, Glasgow’s two largest continental markets and key targets of growth for the city and Scotland in terms of trade, investment and tourism.
So staging Glasgow 2018 has undoubtedly given another boost to the city’s global profile as a visitor destination, with almost 30,000 people now employed in tourism and related industries.
Businesses outside the tourism and hospitality sectors also benefited from Glasgow 2018 organisers working with the Supplier Development Programme to maximise procurement opportunities for companies in the city and throughout Scotland.
Final numbers on that will be known soon, and we’re confident local businesses have gained from the largest event to be hosted in Scotland since 2014.
We’re also pleased that Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s MoU with Berlin Chamber of Commerce is bearing fruit and has focused on growing trading relationships in years to come with the 2018 Games co-host.
Trade visits have promoted Made in Glasgow products. One of our members, luxury candle makers Gold Hart, already has a deal from the first trade mission with upmarket Berlin menswear and lifestyle store, Chelsea Farmers Club. There is more good news to come from these business missions.
A pop-up shop and exhibition in the Merchant City, again called Made in Glasgow, showcased Glasgow designers to the visiting audience, and sold out many of its goods.
So Glasgow 2018 has been a success, but we mustn’t rest on our laurels. There’s much more to be done to keep the city’s international stock high and continue to move towards that one million extra overseas tourists target.
Richard Muir is deputy chief executive at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
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