Report Reveals Ryder Cup Boost of USD133m to Welsh Economy

According to an economic impact study, discount the 2010 Ryder Cup in Newport boosted the Welsh economy by £82.4m (US$133.4m).

The study took into account money spent on and off site, health local travel, buy and any extended stays by visitors and European Ryder Cup director Richard Hills said such events “deliver considerable direct and indirect benefits to the host nation and venue.”

The total attendance for the week of the match hit 244,000, while the total spend, including multipliers, was £82.4m ($133.4m) spent across Wales during the week of the event and this included south east Wales drawing an impact of £74.6m ($120.75m) and Newport £28.3m ($45.8m).

The study, conducted by IFM Sports Marketing Surveys, involved more than 1,250 face-to-face interviews with spectators during the event, followed by nearly 3,000 online, supported by interviews with 254 volunteers, 400 local Welsh businesses, 50 Welsh golf clubs and 472 local residents. Of the spectators interviewed, 69 per cent had come from outside Wales, including 7 per cent from the USA and Canada.

The majority of respondents from outside Wales confirmed that they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the welcome they received (84 per cent) and said their experience made it more likely they would visit Wales to play golf (61 per cent).

The findings follow an earlier study which suggested a 21 per cent boost to proceeds from golf tourism in Wales in 2010 to nearly £42m ($68m).