Record-breaking Open’s £120m economy boost

The 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie boosted the Scottish economy by a huge £120 million, an independent study has found.

A record 172,000 fans flocked to the coastal Angus town for the prestigious golf tournament in July and delivered an economic impact of £69m, according to the study by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre.

Scotland also benefited from £51m in destination marketing activity thanks to the Open being broadcast on television to more than 600 million households in 193 countries worldwide.

The study – commissioned by golf’s governing body The R&A, VisitScotland and Angus Council – concluded that the Angus area alone received a £21m injection of new money from the Open.

Almost half of the spectators who attended the Open (49.8%) travelled from outwith Scotland, while the majority of Scottish fans (84.8%) came from outside Angus, and 62% of non-Angus residents indicated they would return to the region for a break within a year.

The Open is golf’s original championship and it is held in Scotland more often than in any other country. The tournament was being played at Carnoustie for the first time since 2007 and this year’s attendance surpassed the 157,000 total set in 1999.

The R&A aim to attract a younger audience to the Open, and more than 20,000 spectators under the age of 25 attended this year.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the report, saying: “The Open Championship is synonymous with Scotland as the Home of Golf, and this year’s Open at Carnoustie once again showcased Scotland internationally as the perfect stage for major events.

“The figures released today also demonstrate the economic benefits of hosting major events and I’m pleased The 147th Open generated significant income for both the local Angus area and for the wider Scottish economy.”

Picture: Kris Miller.