The 2006 Ryder Cup was worth €143 million to the Irish economy, over €10m more than estimated a study published today has found. The Deloitte report was commissioned by Fáilte Ireland and Ryder Cup Europe and was launched today by the Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue.
It found that the total direct economic impact exceeded pre-event predictions by €13 million and represented a 32 per cent increase on the impact of the 2002 Ryder Cup in England and an 80 per cent increase on that of the 1997 Ryder Cup in Spain.
Of this €143m a total of €128m was invested in the Kildare and Dublin region. The total excludes the 'downstream' effect of the additional expenditure generated by competition, where direct spending is recycled through the economy, bringing further benefit.
The bulk of the impact came from event organisers and from spectators, who each spent an average of€350 per day while at the event. American spectators spent the most at €526 per day. In the corporate sector the average guest spent €500 each day, with those from the United States again being the "big spenders" at an average of €600 per day.
"Not only does the Report confirm that the total economic benefit of the event to the economy comfortably exceeded earlier estimates, it also confirms previously reported perceptions about our visitors' experience, with over 80 per cent suggesting that they would return to Ireland in the future and 92 per cent prepared to recommend Ireland as a golfing holiday destination," MR ODonoghue said.
He added that the challenge is to build on this positive outcome and to ensure that the legacy of the Ryder Cup 2006 is secured for the benefit of Irish tourism.
The Chairman of Fáilte Ireland Gillian Bowler said that while the report demonstrated the value of the Ryder Cup to Ireland "the real value of the event is in its legacy to the country. The Ryder Cup was a fantastic platform to promote Ireland and Irish golf to a worldwide audience and images of the country were broadcast throughout the world during a memorable few days."
She said Fáilte Ireland was working to ensure that the opportunity is maximised said the hosting of the women's Solheim Cup would build on the awareness that was created during the Ryder Cup and "seek to secure international business for Ireland through the fast growing women's golf games. "
The report says that total spectator spending was up 60 per cent compared to The Belfry in 2002, mostly due to increased attendance of 260,000 in 2006 compared to 147,000 in 2002.
Ireland also benefited from more than a 50 per cent increase in spending by spectators outside the event compared to 2002, with overseas spectators staying longer and spending more than ever before on extended holidays around competition.