Pride Toronto releases economic impact study results

$136 million spent during 2009 Pride celebration: report

Pride Toronto has released the results of an economic impact study that suggests the annual Pride celebration generates millions of dollars in spending in Toronto each year.

According to the report by Enigma Research, and released on Nov 16, $136 million was spent during the 2009 Pride celebration. $94 million of that came from visiting tourists.

According to the report, about 411,000 people attended Pride this year. 303,000 of them live in the Toronto area.

The results were distilled from 1,200 respondents surveyed during Pride week.

“These economic benefits are exceptional,” said Enigma’s Michael Harker in a Pride Toronto press release. “The estimates are considerably higher than we have seen at many similar sized festivals and sporting events throughout North America.”

“Planning for 2010 is already well underway and we are hearing great ideas to improve a number of elements of Pride Week, particularly the market place,” Pride Toronto executive director Tracey Sandilands said in the same release. “Current plans include expanding of the festival site to include Queen’s Park, adding two new stages and beverage gardens, revamping the market place and the affiliate events program and holding year-round Pride events beginning in the fall.”

The complete survey summary is available at Pridetoronto.com.

On occasion, the number of editors and other staff who contribute to a story gets a little unwieldy to give a byline to everyone. That’s when we use “Xtra Staff” in place of the usual contributor info. If you would like more information on who contributed to a particular story, please contact us here.

Read More About:
Power, Culture, News, Pride, Toronto, Canada

Keep Reading

The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts

OPINION: Melissa Lantsman’s and Eric Duncan’s refusals to call out their party’s transphobia is a betrayal of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ2S+ bills have been introduced this year. This doesn’t mean we should panic

OPINION: While it’s important to watch out for threats, not all threats are created equally. Some of these bills will die a natural death

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight

Elon Musk and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton are suing Media Matters. Here’s why queer and trans people should care

OPINION: When politicians and the rich leverage the power of the state to quell dissent, we all lose