Piping Live! reels in £1.9 million for the economy

It’s been piping hot in Scotland this year – and not just in terms of the weather.

Figures for Piping Live!, the Glasgow International Piping Festival, reveal the event generated a tremendous boost for the local economy – to the tune of over £1.9 million.

An economic impact report found that Piping Live!, which ran from 13–19 August, welcomed over 31,000 music fans to Glasgow, 75% of whom were from outside the city and 32% outside Scotland. Overseas visitors from destinations such as Oman, USA, Canada and New Zealand accounted for 24% of festival goers.

The average overseas visitor to Piping Live! stayed in Glasgow for 5.6 days, staying in Scotland for 10.4 days in total and spending around £100 per day during their vacation.

The evaluation undertaken by Tourism Resources Company, further highlights the importance of the annual piping festival not only as a feature in Scotland’s cultural calendar, but in attracting visitors from across the globe to Glasgow.

In its 15th year Piping Live! saw over 150 events take place throughout the city, including the fiercely contested Master Solo, International Quartet and Pipe Idol competitions. Trad heavyweights Breabach, Ross Ainslie and Finlay MacDonald also topped the bill.

The National Piping Centre, renowned as the centre of excellence for piping music, is the home of Piping Live!. The festival receives support from public bodies including Glasgow Life and Event Scotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate – each playing an essential role in the continuing strength of traditional music in Scotland’s cultural scene.

Roddy MacLeod, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping festival organiser, said: ‘This year, Glasgow enjoyed a tremendously busy summer and Piping Live! was certainly a huge part of this. We attract incredible crowds, top calibre acts and incredible trad talent to the city and 2018 was no different.

‘Traditional music has a worldwide fanbase and this report reflects an audience that’s always growing. We’re going into our 16th year stronger than ever, continuing to boost tourism in Scotland, as well as Glasgow, and having a lot of fun as we do so. We look forward to welcoming even more guests to our city in August 2019.’

Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life said: ‘These results from Piping Live! demonstrate once again how popular this festival continues to be and the role it plays in bringing visitors to Glasgow during the Summer.

‘Piping Live! is part of the diverse musical life of Glasgow and a keenly anticipated Summer festival which makes brilliant use of a whole range of indoor and outdoor venues across the city. It’s is always a joy to experience performances as part of Piping Live! and to see so many different nations represented.’

Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival returns 10–18 August 2019.

For more information on the festival, visit www.pipinglive.co.uk.