The economic and social impact of Sydney WorldPride 2023

Image credit: Daniel Boud
 

Sydney WorldPride gathered LGBTQIA+ people from across the globe to honour and empower each other and local communities, to amplify and acknowledge connection across all societies, and to dream of a future where there is a space for all voices.

This report outlines the economic and social value of hosting Sydney WorldPride 2023. It describes the making of Sydney WorldPride and key events of the Festival, including a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In estimating the economic value of Sydney WorldPride, this report considers festival operations, the spending of visiting attendees and artists, and volunteer contributions.

The social benefits of the Festival include the concerted efforts made to highlight Asia Pacific communities and advocate for their rights, the design and delivery of a program with First Nations peoples at the centre, and reopening Sydney to the world in one of the first major events post-pandemic.

Informed by data from Sydney WorldPride Limited, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, an attendee survey, surveys of Pride Amplified organisers, local businesses and Human Rights Conference attendees and publicly available research, the study found that the Sydney WorldPride Festival added $185.6 million to the NSW economy and supported 1,699 full-time equivalent jobs. What’s more, 92% of LGBTQIA+ people said they felt safe and welcome at Sydney WorldPride and 9 in 10 attendees said WorldPride enhanced Sydney’s reputation as an events capital.

More broadly, this report calls for greater action and investment to improve the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia, Asia-Pacific and around the world, and demonstrates the importance of holding significant events in Sydney to tourism brand, community and local businesses.

Image credit: Cassandra Hannagan