Music festivals Outlook and Dimensions announced that this summer will be their last year at the Punta Christo Fortress near Pula – a place they have called home for 10 years, the organizers of the festivals announced. NVS Music Group. Vedran Meniga is one of the owners of the company Pozitivan ritam who are a local technical partner and co-organizer of the festival, in 2015 he told Poslovni.hr that the average consumption of their guests, without the festival ticket, accommodation and travel, is between 500 and 700 euros per person. The last edition of Outlook, the largest European festival of bass music and soundsystem culture at the Punta Christo Fortress, which will take place from 4 to 9 September, will be remembered as the last, at least in Pula. On the other hand, the Dimensions festival, which has positioned itself as one of the world’s most prestigious electronic music festivals, last year as a motive for coming was for more than six thousand visitors from all over the world. Visitors from the United Kingdom are still in the lead, but the festival is visited by more and more French, Italians, Dutch, Irish and Australians, and visitors from the United States were also on the rise. Music festivals are certainly of great importance for the development of culture, the impact on the economy, especially locally, and on the overall promotion of a tourist destination. All the numbers clearly show that, from the number of nights to tourist spending and the huge promotion. Pula is losing millions of euros in tourist spending It is unknown at this time how Brexit will affect Britons’ travel after March 29, when the break-up with the European Union takes effect. There is already a kind of panic among tourist workers because the only thing that is known is that nothing is known. Visa issues and weight loss or strengthening are two main issues. The worst thing is that it is currently booking time, and everything is in the air and the status quo reigns, everyone is on guard, including passengers who are waiting for the outcome of the whole situation. After all, the issue of Brexit is one of the reasons for the cancellation of the two festivals, and various other implications can only be expected. If we look at the numbers, it is a total of ten festival days that attract over 16.000 visitors, and when we multiply by the average consumption it is over 7.6 million euros of minimum consumption, and the calculation does not include accommodation, travel and all other costs during the stay. Also, the just mentioned festivals were credited with extending the tourist season as they are held in late August and early September. The impact of Brexit on tourism – still the status quo These sister festivals have been operating in Croatia for 12 years, hosting musicians, promoters, visitors and publishing houses from all over the world. Big names like Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Damian Marley, Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones, Massive Attack and Jeff Mills are just some of the musical greats you have performed at the unique fortress and in the Pula Arena. More than a clear argument, that investing in events and festivals is not a cost, but an investment. In 2018, a total of 857.645 arrivals and 4.459.414 overnight stays were made from the UK market, of which about 100.000 were in Istria. According to Thomas research Summer 2017 guests from the UK spend 139 euros a day, right after guests from the USA who are the best consumers. FB Outlook Festival It is not yet known the main reason for canceling the festival in Pula or whether the festival will be held in another location in Croatia, but as we unofficially learn that one of the main reasons is the much mentioned Brexit, which everyone fears in Europe, including Croatia, i.e. weaker booking due to Brexit as the main market. At the Outlook Festival, Europe’s largest celebration of bass music and soundsystem culture, last year alone, ten and a half thousand visitors arrived from all over the world. The British were in the lead, followed by the Germans, Austrians, French, Americans, Australians, French, Belgians, Canadians, New Zealanders and the Dutch. By the way, tourists from Great Britain are among the best consumers, who have just discovered Croatia in the last few years. And a big role has just been played by various festivals along the coast, from Ultra to Garden to Outlook Festival. “We are really sorry for the decision that the organizers of the festival had a hard time encouraging due to numerous factors that they cannot influence. We understand and respect the decision. From the very beginning, we have been in partnership with the organizers, even now when we are trying to find a solution that would allow us to keep these festivals in Pula. Outlook and Dimensions festivals are among the most popular music festivals in Europe and thanks to them Pula has become a recognizable festival destination where tens of thousands of young people from all over the world come every year. ” she stated Head of the Administrative Department for Culture of the City of Pula Jasmina Nina Kamber and added that the City of Pula from the very beginning supported their maintenance precisely because of the great potential and because of their benefits for the entire community. City of Pula: Thanks to Outlook and Dimensions, Pula has become a world festival destination From the city of Pula, they are surprised by the decisions of the organizers, and are aware of the great loss to the entire tourist destination. On the other side of the coast, total consumption generated Ultra Europe the festival in 2017 was estimated at HRK 525,3 million, which is approximately 0,08% of the total GDP of Croatia, while the promotional marketing value is estimated at at least EUR 25 million. “Apart from the great international promotion of Pula, there is also a great financial benefit that the festivals have generated and entailed a number of catering and trade activities which have significantly enriched the tourist offer of Pula. The festivals contributed to the increase in the number of arrivals and overnight stays, but also to the income in many activities during the post season and for many they were an opportunity for employment and additional earnings. In addition, a significant part of the income generated during the festival and which enabled the construction and maintenance of city infrastructure. Nine Kamber points out and concluded that the entire organization of the festival has greatly contributed to the promotion of Pula as a recognized festival destination and that she still hopes for their stay, or soon return. FB Outlook Festival Cover photo: Dimensions festival / Rob Jones
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