Scotties brings in bucks
Colin Dacre - Jul 13, 2018 - Biz Releases

Photo: Mike Biden

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts held in Penticton earlier this year generated a $6.7 million impact on the local economy, according to a report going before city council next week.

An estimated 5,800 out-of-town visitors attended the national women’s curling championship at the South Okanagan Events Centre between Jan. 27 and Feb. 4, spending an average of just over $1,400 per person.

The typical visitor was here for 5.5 nights and attended just under 10 draws.

“The combined spending of out-of-town participants, delegates, family members, spectators and other people who visited Penticton for the event, in combination with the expenditures made by the organizers of the event, totalled $5 million, supporting $8 million of economic activity in British Columbia, including $6.7 million of economic activity in Penticton,” the report concludes.

For context, the ITU Multisport World Championships in 2017 claimed an $8.6 million local impact. Organizers of the Scotties had predicted the event would generate “at least $6M” in activity.

The economic impact study also breaks down where tournament attendees travelled from. Fifty-three per cent came from the Okanagan, while 24 per cent came from elsewhere in B.C. The remainder, 22 per cent, came from the rest of Canada.

The average tournament attendee was 61.5 years old and attended 4.7 days of the event. Thirteen per cent of attendees were making their first visit to Penticton and an overwhelming 95 per cent said they would visit the community again based on their experience at the Scotties.


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