The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 organisation was a jackpot for Helsinki, its host city. It was a success according the public, the organisers and the tourism organisations. The well organised event may help to get other big events in the future which are in Helsinki�s wish list.
Employment and benefits
All the statistics are out now and we can have a look of the tourist and economical input of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in the Helsinki area. A research revealed last week proves that most hotels, restaurants and tourist organisation think they benefited from the event and had an increase in their income. The event also increased employment in the area. Employment increased as much as 210 people working full time for a year. People also think it was much better organised than the 2005 World championships in athletics.
Visitors
Over 80.000 people came to Helsinki area during and for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, about 10% of them from abroad. Half of the people were local. A total of 70.000 tickets were sold and 20.000 of them went abroad. Theaverage Eurovision guests were, if divided in three main categories, a 25-34 females from Helsinki area spending less than 50 euros a day, under 25 year old females coming from outside Helsinki area spending less than 50 euros a day and a 25-34 year old males from abroad, 10% of them stating they spent more than 500 euros a day.
Economics
The biggest economical influence was the event itself. It brought in 12,6 million euros.10,8 million euroscame from theevent itself, the rest was spent by the visitors. Especially the foreign visitors played a very important role to the economics. The local visitors spent in average 50 euros a day while the foreigners even up to 500 euros a day. “Finns came to enjoy the atmosphere and to be part of it, the foreigners came to party and spend some money” says Seppo Laakso from Kaupunkitutkimus that made the research. “Many foreign visitors were gay who are used to spending money on partying and shopping”.
Problems
The main problem was the increase in the hotel prices that hit the new all time record the average price being 116 euros in May 2007. It was even higher than during the 2005 World championships in athletics when the prices went up to 111 euros. It was also the main sourse of complaints, even if the same has happened in every host city the past few years. “It was very easy for the guests to check on the internet that the prices were cheaper a couple of months earlier. We are trying to keep the prices under control in Belgrade, but it isn’t easy” says Kjell Ekholm from EBU’s reference group. “High prices are a risk and may influence in the future Helsinki’s chances of getting some other big events, it’s bad for the image” concludes Seppo Laakso. Helsinki’s problem was also a lack of cheaper hotel rooms, most hotels being four of five star ones.
Conclusion
But all in all it was a success in every sense of the word not only for Helsinki but for the whole of Finland. The Eurovision Song Contest was brought to the city, to the streets and to the people, whether you managed to get a ticket or not.
