Business events value soars by 7.4% in Dundee and Angus

Business Events are now worth over £68m to Dundee and Angus, an increase of 7.4% on 2016, according to new convention bureau figures.

More than 255,000 national and international delegates visited the city-region during 2017, said Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau in an official statistical release, based on data collected from local suppliers.

According to the figures, estimated economic value from meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions (MICE) rose from £63,637,629 in 2016 to £68,354,967 (figures from UK National Tourist Boards Delegate Expenditure Multipliers).

Karen Tocher, Business Tourism Manager of Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau, said: “Business Events are hugely important to the local economy of Dundee, Angus and the wider region and this is further affirmed by the recent release of 2017 figures that saw an increase of 7.4% on the previous year, with over 255,000 delegates visiting the destination for business events, contributing over £68million to the local economy.

Karen Tocher, Business Tourism Manager, Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau, photographed in Dundee by Mary Turner for EventsBase.

“Business Events are recognised as an agent of growth and the currency for growth is intellectual capital, therefore we will continue to work closely with our academic and research institutes to attract conferences in Scotland’s growth sectors. Business Events facilitate internationalisation, inward investment and showcasing of key industry sectors and strengths and are a driver for social and economic transformation”

She added: “The city has been growing in stature for decades, and the increase in business events visitors to the city and region for conferences continues to reflect this. The new developments and the step change in Dundee’s confidence as a city will bring even more events in forthcoming years. These figures are only going to increase, as an estimated 500,000 new visitors are expected to visit the city when V&A Dundee opens on the 15^th of September 2018 – a flagship development for the destination and wider region.”

“Dundee has proved its capabilities to run complex international events and the importance of traditional and contemporary academic achievement in the city cannot be underestimated in terms of attracting conferences to the area, and this is reflected in the 2019 conference programme, where we look forward to welcoming the 13^th European Academy of Design Conference with over 350 delegates, the British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences Student Conference with over 300 delegates, the 66^th World Community Development Conference with over 300 delegates and more national and international events”

She said: “We aim to inspire our delegate audiences by sharing Dundee, Angus and the region with the world, where they get to experience a city where transformational thinking is changing the future of our planet; a city where innovation, design and experimentation are at the core of business.”