A detailed study by the University of Valencia has put figures on the economic impact of the Fallas, the largest and most economically profitable Valencian festival. According to the work of the Mesval Chair, the results indicate that the total additional expenditure generated by the six main agents of the festival (falleros, commissions, groups, visitors, companies and public administrations) reaches almost 400 million euros which, excluding imports from outside the Valencian Community, is 355 million euros.
Figures that, as explained in a press conference by José Manuel Pastor, director of the investigation, translate into a global economic impact of the Fallas that amounts to 910 million euros: 733 million euros in sales, 177 million in income ( value added). To which must be added the creation of 6,440 jobs.
Given this, and after analyzing studies of other celebrations, Pastor has pointed out that the Fallas are the festival that generates the most employment in all of Spain.
Along these lines, the study concludes that, in terms of economic impact, the Fallas of Valencia represent 0.14% of the GDP of the entire Valencian Community and 0.28% of employment, evidencing their economic relevance not only at the local level. , but also regional. These results, the study indicates, “show the capacity of the Fallas de València to mobilize significant economic activity, demonstrating that the festival is not only a cultural event, but also an important economic driver.”
To carry out the study, researchers José Manuel Pastor, Manuela Pardo and Juan Francisco MartÃnez, have based themselves on surveys carried out with falleros (more than 10% have participated) and commissions (20% answered the questions); almost 1,000 surveys of visitors to the 2023 Fallas, as well as data on the number of visitors (through big data) and information collected on expenses made by the 24 Fallas groups, as well as by public institutions (City Hall, Provincial Council of Valencia , Generalitat Valenciana and Government Delegation) in concepts such as cleaning, security, firefighters, etc. and by companies collaborating with the party.
The result establishes that, regarding the additional spending generated, tourism contributes the majority with 269 million euros, which represents 68% of the total. For their part, the Falleros contribute 74.13 million (19%) and the Fallas commissions with 35 million (9%).
Most of this spending is channeled into sectors such as hospitality, the textile industry and the transport, storage and communications sectors, totaling €268.8 million, that is, 75.7% of the total additional spending generated. for the Fallas.
Regarding the global economic impact, broken down by sector, the hospitality industry is positioned as the most benefited economic activity, with an income of 62.4 million euros (35% of the total) and 2,427 jobs (38% of the total). This is followed by real estate activities and business services, with 32 million euros in income (18%) and 529 jobs (8%), and commerce, with 16.7 million euros in income (9.4%) and 987 jobs (15%).
