Business, sporting and cultural events supported by Destination Vancouver delivered significant economic and social value to the city in 2024, according to a new independent report from MNP that highlights the scale and impact of Vancouver’s event sector. These events represented $338 million in direct spending alone.
The Economic Impact of Events in Vancouver, 2024 looked at 187 events supported by Destination Vancouver and finds these events generated:
- $544 million in total economic output
- $338 million in direct spending
- $283 million in GDP
- 4,010 full-time equivalent jobs
- $87 million in tax revenue across all levels of government
- 198,000 overnight visitors
- 82 per cent of these impacts were generated by visitor spending.
“Events are essential to Vancouver’s visitor economy and to the vibrancy of our city, especially outside the peak summer season,” said Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver. “They keep people working, support small and medium-sized businesses, and strengthen the year-round appeal of Vancouver as a place to meet, celebrate, and connect.”
Every dollar spent by Destination Vancouver on business events supported $59 in visitor spending, $68 in total GDP
and $20 in total government revenue. Citywide events, which are larger and attract more out-of-town attendees than other types of business events, supported $47 in visitor spending, $56 in total GDP, and $17 in total government revenue.
Chwin noted that, “while many nation-building projects could take years before communities see the benefits, investments in sport, cultural, and business events deliver impact almost immediately. These are smart, high-return investments that translate into visitor spending, jobs, and tax revenues within months, not decades, while also strengthening Vancouver’s cultural vitality and global competitiveness.”
