Piping Live event generates £2.5m for Glasgow

Flagship piping festival Piping Live! generated £2,5m for the Glasgow economy as it celebrated its most successful year to date, newly released figures show.
Piping Live! Takes place every yearPiping Live! Takes place every year
Piping Live! Takes place every year

The International Piping Festival, to give Piping Live its full name, ran for a week in August this year, and organised 200 events across Glasgow from Scotland’s home of piping music, the National Piping Centre.

A survey commissioned by Economic and Social Development in Glasgow, showed that three quarters of attendees travelled from outside of Glasgow and nearly a third from outside of Scotland.

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Over 45,000 attendees were recorded at the festival, a 9 per cent increase on last year, with the average overseas visitor staying in Scotland fo for over five days.

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Festival round-up: Piping Live!, Glasgow

The Festival is supported by Event Scotland, Glasgow’s cultural organisation Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland.

Roddy MacLeod, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping festival organiser, said: “What a fantastic year it’s been for Piping Live! We continue to break our own records, bringing in more visitors to Glasgow each year, and showcasing some truly amazing talent.

“Piping Live! is intrinsic to Scotland’s cultural calendar and we’re delighted to say that this report reflects a worldwide thirst for traditional music that is going from strength to strength.

“The number of overseas visitors are a welcome boost to tourism in Scotland, and Glasgow, bringing vital custom to local businesses, including hotels, bars and restaurants.

“We’re already planning for next year and we look forward to welcoming even more guests to our city in August 2018.”

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Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “As a key part of EventScotland’s annual portfolio of events, I’m delighted Piping Live! continues to go from strength to strength, with 2017 festival bringing a record audience to this fantastic week-long celebration of one our country’s most iconic instruments and sounds.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for piping events and festivals and I’d like to congratulate the team at Piping Live! on delivery another outstanding festival in 2017.”

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Councillor David McDonald, Chair of cultural organisation Glasgow Life said: “Piping Live! is well established in Glasgow’s cultural calendar and plays a vital role every summer bringing people from all over the world to enjoy outstanding music performances.

“At the same time, the many venues Piping Live! uses takes visitors right across the city giving them a taste of what Glasgow offers all year round. This study highlights the role Piping Live! has, in conjunction with the World Pipe Band Championships, encouraging terrific artists to perform in Glasgow and providing yet another reason for visitors to come here.”

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