Last year, the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon recorded a new runner record – 32,455 registered runners, 17% more than in 2022 – and left in the city of Valencia and its surroundings tourist expenditure of 31.3 million euros, almost 10% more than the previous edition and five times the amount invested in its organization, according to the impact report of the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (Ivie), presented this Tuesday in the Valencian capital.
The organization invested 6.2 million euros in the celebration of the 43rd edition, which took place on December 3rd. 60% came from registrations, 33.6% came from sponsors and 5.8% came from institutions and own funds. This means that for every euro spent in the organization, five euros in tourism expenses are generated by national participants and their accompanying persons. Since 2011, the investment in the organization of the race has increased fivefold in real terms: it has increased from 1.2 million to 6.2 million at the last edition.
The high number of foreign runners, which increased by 29% during the 2022 race and already represents 57% of the total, is one of the reasons for the increase in tourist spending, as their stay in the city is longer and they spend on average daily better. The number of foreign runners reached 18,540 people last year, with an average individual expenditure of 157.4 euros per day, compared to 122.3 euros for domestic runners.
Tourist spending is not the only economic impact left by the Valencia Marathon. The 37.5 million euros, added to the costs associated with the organization and the expenses incurred by the participants and their companions, generate a total effect on the turnover (company turnover) of the Valencian economy of 67.6 million euros. This results in a real impact on Valencian income (GDP, i.e. salaries, wages and profits of companies) of 19.9 million euros..
The activity generated by last year's marathon made it possible to maintain the equivalent of 600 full-time positions per year, an increase of 5.1% compared to the 2022 edition. This tractor effect has expanded and in the last decade (especially since 2011) the impact of the marathon in the province of Valencia has multiplied in real terms by nine times in terms of income generated and almost twelve times in terms of jobs.
The service sector is the one that benefits the most from the impact of the marathon, ranging between 87% and 90%, both in terms of income and employment. In particular, hospitality, commerce, real estate activities and business services, as well as other social services and activities (including cultural, leisure and sports services) are the sectors most favored in celebrating the event.
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The Ivie report, prepared by the institute's deputy director, Joaquín Maudos, and economist Eva Benages, updates the analysis of the fiscal impact of the marathon, which was new in the previous edition. According to the data of the new report, the test contributed 10.6 million euros to the public coffers through tax collection, taxes and social contributions, covering the expenses of the organization as well as the participants and their companions. This value is 10.6% higher in real terms than in 2022 and means that for every euro spent in the organization, 1.7 euros in tax revenue is generated.
According to Joaquín Maudos, head of the study, “the Valencia Marathon continues to break records year after year.” In the last edition, the number of runners increased by 17%, the proportion of foreigners is now 57%, the impact on income is real 7.4% higher and the impact on employment increased by 5.1%. These are numbers that set the bar very high for the 2024 edition.
Paco Borao, President of SD Correcaminos, recognized that the increasing count of the Valencia Marathon and the continuous increase in foreign participation in the event have led to the exceptional economic impact of our event in recent years.” In addition, he emphasized that all registrations for the 2024 event have already been sold and the complete poster was hung two months earlier than last year.
Juan Miguel Gómez, director of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and main coordinator of the race, emphasized: “In addition to all the positive figures that we know, I would like to highlight the more than 10.5 million that the Valencia Marathon leaves for the public coffers.”
María Ángeles Vidal, executive director of the Municipal Sports Foundation of the City Council of Valencia, emphasized: “These 600 jobs created in all sectors, affecting professionalization and training, have led us to create a professional fabric specialist in sporting events. “The marathon helps us to make Valencia look more and more like a city capable of organizing everything in sports,” he concluded.