The Belfast EMAs 2011 beyond economic impacts…civic pride

McQuillan, N., Quinn, U. & Murray, A Ulster Business School

University of Ulster

Copeland, G Belfast City Council

Belfast

IntroductionBelfast City - an emerging global

events destination in a post conflict era

Titanic Signature

Project

Tall ships 2015

Gary Light Body – Snow Patrol

“…Belfast is the most joyous I have ever seen it…the spotlight shone

positively”

Brian May lead guitarist Queen

“How wonderful for us to be in Belfast 40 years later…where Belfast is finally showing its beauty and setting an

example to the world, out of grief and tragedy, the beginnings of truth and

peace…”

Civic pride – the ‘feel good’ factor from the EMAs for the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland

Rationale• Belfast City Council are interested

in measuring civic pride to inform their sustainable events strategy and entice further global events.

• This paper examines the concept of civic pride and explores its measurement within the context of the successful Belfast EMAs 2011.

The Challenge of Measuring civic pride

The Belfast Tourism Monitor, commissioned by Belfast City Council

to measure the socio-economic impacts of the Belfast

EMAs 2011.

Exemplar measurements of civic pride

• Edinburgh Festivals (2011)

• Blackburn –Arts in the Park (Wood 2005)

Belfast EMAsWas civic pride measured?

The Data collected by Belfast Tourism Monitor reported on:Media coverage – 8 international crews,

6000 journalists – PR Value £10.9mGlobal audience 1.2bnAirport arrivals – up 13% - BIA and 8%

BC Attendance figures – up 184% Economic Value to Belfast £ 21.96m

ConclusionBCC recognise the potential for the measurement of civic pride, the opportunities exist for doing so and its value towards informing a sustainable events strategy recognised.

Recommendations

• Define civic pride and test community understanding of the meaning;

• Specifically target community members to collect data before during and after events;

• Review research methods employed, possibly more qualitative – interviews, focus groups, open questions on surveys;

Recommendations (contd)

• Consider developing a standardised research framework;

• Develop a longitudinal study over 5 – 10 years.

The future for the development of civic pride in Belfast is exciting and

…beyond patriotism.