Economic impact of the 2008 American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine

Abstract

Festivals and events are becoming increasingly important drivers of tourism activity in Maine. Based on a survey of festival visitors, this study used an IMPLAN^TM input-output model to estimate the economic impact of the 2008 American Folk Festival in Bangor, ME. The Center for Tourism Research and Outreach estimated that 95,626 local and nonlocal individuals visited the festival. Visitors' spending outside of the festival was highest for restaurants and/or lounges, followed by gasoline, hotels, gifts, and outdoor equipment. For those who visited the festival exclusively, the highest expenditures were for hotels and other accommodations, followed by grocery and convenience store purchases, restaurants and/or lounges, and gasoline. Visitors' estimated total direct spending was $6.5 million. The festival's estimated economic impact in the Bangor area was $9.8 million. Implications for the local economy and suggested strategies for promoting the festival are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Silva, Bernardita; Mann, Marilynne; Daniel, Harold. 2010. Economic impact of the 2008 American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 242-246.