Barcelona to bag €100m from global gay 'fiesta'
The 11-day Circuit Festival is expected to attract over 71,000 visitors and generate €100 million ($134 million) in revenue for the Catalan city through art, sport, parties, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activities.
The spectacular gay festival running in Barcelona from August 6th-17th will attract a huge influx of free-spending foreign visitors, according to its organizers.
Most are expected to be middle class, mid-to-high income professionals aged 25-45 who will spend an average of €250 every day.
Assuming a typical stay of seven days, the result will be a €100 million injection of cash into the local economy.
Spanish daily Publico reported Circuit spokesperson Teseo Cuadreny as saying, "Barcelona is in fashion with the gay public and thousands of homosexual couples visit the city each year thanks to its mix of sun, beach, gastronomy, leisure and, above all, its tolerance, and because they can walk hand-in-hand through the streets without anyone saying anything."
22 parties, and 15 daily activities related to art, culture, sport and LGBT activism are included in the Festival's packed schedule.
Joining the party will be 2,500 gay passengers from the North American liner Atlantis Cruise which is docking in Barcelona on August 12th, just in time for Water Park Day, the world's biggest gay and lesbian water park event with 7,000 participants.
Most Circuit attendees in previous years were European but many Brazilians, Americans, Australians, Chinese and Taiwanese now make the trip to Catalonia.
Five to ten percent of attendees are Muslims, leading to the adoption of pork-free catering such as hot dogs made from turkey and chicken.
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The spectacular gay festival running in Barcelona from August 6th-17th will attract a huge influx of free-spending foreign visitors, according to its organizers.
Most are expected to be middle class, mid-to-high income professionals aged 25-45 who will spend an average of €250 every day.
Assuming a typical stay of seven days, the result will be a €100 million injection of cash into the local economy.
Spanish daily Publico reported Circuit spokesperson Teseo Cuadreny as saying, "Barcelona is in fashion with the gay public and thousands of homosexual couples visit the city each year thanks to its mix of sun, beach, gastronomy, leisure and, above all, its tolerance, and because they can walk hand-in-hand through the streets without anyone saying anything."
22 parties, and 15 daily activities related to art, culture, sport and LGBT activism are included in the Festival's packed schedule.
Joining the party will be 2,500 gay passengers from the North American liner Atlantis Cruise which is docking in Barcelona on August 12th, just in time for Water Park Day, the world's biggest gay and lesbian water park event with 7,000 participants.
Most Circuit attendees in previous years were European but many Brazilians, Americans, Australians, Chinese and Taiwanese now make the trip to Catalonia.
Five to ten percent of attendees are Muslims, leading to the adoption of pork-free catering such as hot dogs made from turkey and chicken.
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