Economic impact of St Pauls Carnival 2023

Plumridge, Anthony; Whittard, Damian; Green, Elizabeth

Abstract

The Economic Impact Assessment for the 2023 St Pauls Carnival concluded that the event brought to Bristol some £ 9.2 million in additional expenditure. The estimates were based on a peak attendance at this year’s Carnival believed to be around 120,000 people – a 20% increase compared to the last Carnival full in 2019.
As the annual cost to stage the Carnival is currently at £450,000-this means that for every pound spent on its organisation, Bristol and the wider West of England region see a £20 return in economic benefits alone.
The independent assessment was produced by the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance from UWE’s Bristol Business School, using a mix of data gathered on the day and established economic modelling.
The economic boost to Bristol is £3.5m above the figure reached when a similar assessment was produced in 2018, showing the Carnival’s resilience despite concerns over the cost of living. In fact, 70% of those surveyed by the Bristol Business School said that the economic situation made them value St Pauls Carnival more than before.
In the survey conducted by the UWE researchers, 80% stated that they were unlikely to be doing anything else on the day, with a much smaller group stating they would be out shopping or attending another event, which suggests that, without St Pauls Carnival, a significant number of people would have not gone out and spent in local businesses.
Additionally, 66% of those surveyed stated they would not be in Bristol on the day of Carnival if it were not for the event.
Unsurprisingly, most of the expenditure is on food and drink (81%), especially in the St Pauls area, with 43% of those surveyed stating they spent up to £25 per person, followed by 35% saying they spent between £26 to £50. But the assessment also indicates significant expenditure beyond the St Pauls area and in other sectors such as accommodation.
Although St Pauls Carnival is proud to be an event by and for the African Caribbean community in Bristol, it is also an opportunity to bring together and celebrate Bristol’s multicultural and multi-ethnic population, attracting a much broader ethnic, social and geographical range of participants from Bristol and beyond.
A social media activity analysis also conducted by the researchers indicate that this is indeed the case, with St Pauls Carnival bringing significant social and cultural positive outcomes on top of its economic benefits.
The survey also indicates that St Pauls Carnival is seen as a safe event enjoyed by families and friends, with 95% of those consulted stating they want to return to St Pauls Carnival in the future.

Citation

Plumridge, A., Whittard, D., & Green, E. (2023). Economic impact of St Pauls Carnival 2023. St Pauls Committe

• Report Type: Project Report
• Acceptance Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 4, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 4, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11485227