The results are contained in two separate reports from WorldPride organisers and Deloitte Access Economics – a sponsor of the event – which will be studied by the new NSW government as it crafts its approach to major cultural events and tourism.
The Deloitte analysis revealed just less than 310,000 people attended the festival;two-thirds were Sydneysiders,9 per cent were from elsewhere in NSW,18 per cent were from interstate and 7 per cent came from overseas.
The total figure of 103,800 visitors to Sydney exceeds pre-event expectations,refined during the pandemic,of about 75,000-80,000 visitors. However,it is lower than most attendance estimates for World Youth Day in 2008,Sydney’s largest event since the 2000 Olympics.
Foreigners accounted for one in five visitors – higher than a routine Sydney Mardi Gras,which is about 15 per cent. They also stayed longer – 10.8 nights on average – and were bigger spenders,splurging an average $497 a night.
Deloitte partner Adele Labine-Romain said that expenditure figure was larger than normal,but “feels about right” in a time of higher prices.
“International visitors who come specifically for events and who attend cultural institutions or festivals,they have a higher spend,” she said. “They’re an engaged visitor,so they’re doing more while they’re here.