Feature
Issue No. 11 - June/July 2003
World Cup Impact
The Rugby World Cup is to be held in Australia later this year. It promises to be a six weekly carnival of exciting rugby as the best of the northern hemisphere pit themselves against the south. But is there more to it? What’s going on off the field? What are the economic benefits of the Rugby World Cup 2003?
According to the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), World Cup 2003 will inject $800 million to $1 billion to the Australian economy.
What does the Cup mean for exports? Export benefits from major sporting events accrue in terms of sponsorship; media broadcast rights (an estimated four billion viewers will be watching), and tickets (sold to overseas rugby fans).
However, the main export benefits accrue in terms of inbound tourism. Recent estimates show that around 55,000 tourists will visit Australia for the Cup alone. Accordingly, the Australian Tourism Commission is a major supporter of the event and will be making sure that the benefits spread to small businesses in the tourism industry.
The World Cup will be held Australia wide, so the benefits will be distributed more evenly. The Queensland Government estimates a benefit of $200 million and the Victorian government $100 million to their economies as a result of stages matches. In Victoria, some estimates of the holding of the 1997 Bledisloe Cup have been measured to be worth around $61 million to the state. The Cup will also be good for regional Australia with matches also taking place in im...
