Press release for immediate release 5th September 2006

Burghley economic impact research pays off

An economic impact survey into the Burghley Horse Trials by rural regeneration agency the Welland SSP has illustrated the trials’ massive £16m-plus annual financial contribution to the local and East Midlands’ economy.

With results fed into a major sports tourism evaluation by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the financial impact of Burghley’s four-day international trials exceeded Trent Bridge test cricket, Donington MotoGP, Nottingham Open tennis and even the 2002 Silverstone Grand Prix*.
Burghley visitor expenditure over the four days was calculated at £15.6m and trials organisers spent £700,000 with East Midlands-based companies to stage the event.
The independent report commissioned from PAWA Consulting by emda, East Midlands Tourism and Sport England, was published as part of emda’s recognition of sports tourism - calculated to deliver an annual total of £45m into the East Midlands.

The Burghley survey, jointly funded by the Welland SSP, Lincolnshire Tourism and South Kesteven District Council, was carried out in 2004, using face to face interviews with visitors, questionnaires for local businesses and trials exhibitors and close liaison with trials organisers.

Key findings from Burghley, one of the top four Horse Trials in the world, confirmed more than 140,000 visitors over four days with an average daily spend of £264, fully booked hotels and camp sites during the event and 67% of trials visitors travelling from outside the region. The report also concluded that Burghley supports 398 full time-equivalent (FTE) jobs in the East Midlands.
Elizabeth Inman, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Director, said: “Results from the economic impact survey have proved very interesting for us as an event and invaluable in recognising what a huge financial contribution Burghley makes to the local area around Stamford, let alone the wider East Midlands.”