Annual events play an important role in the development of the Gothenburg region. When Göteborg & Co provided support to the nine largest annual events in Gothenburg to measure their economic impact on tourism – that is, the money that participants and visitors spend during their stay in the region – the results showed a total revenue of SEK 2.3 billion per year. Of this, the Gothia Cup accounts for SEK 993 million.
– The Gothia Cup is the world’s largest international youth soccer tournament. This year, teams from 79 countries are participating with the goal of creating lifelong experiences and friendships across borders. We make a tangible contribution to the kind of open and international city that Gothenburg aspires to be, says Niclas Freiholtz, Secretary General of the Gothia Cup.

During a tournament like the Gothia Cup, the economic benefits reach a wider audience than events held only in central Gothenburg. Participants stay at schools and hotels, play matches, and travel across large parts of the region.
– This means that businesses outside the city center also benefit from the economic impact, says Niclas Freiholtz.
– Unlike many other major events, we return every year. Moreover, it costs the city nothing to host the tournament, while businesses and organizations can plan for the long term to capitalize on the opportunities the event creates.

The survey also shows that Gothenburg residents are positive about the Gothia Cup. When asked, “If the Gothia Cup were dependent on financial support from the City of Gothenburg to survive and be held again in the coming years, do you think the city should provide it?” 68.1 percent answered yes.

The report includes the Gothia Cup, the Partille World Cup, and the Gothia Cup Floorball as three of the nine events studied. These three tournaments also collaborate on organization, infrastructure, and development. Together, they generate SEK 1.45 billion in tourism-related economic impacts for the Gothenburg region.

The Partille World Cup’s economic impact from tourism amounts to SEK 398.5 million, making the handball tournament the second-largest of the events studied. The Gothia Cup Floorball generated an economic impact from tourism of SEK 60.4 million.

Collectively, the three tournaments account for approximately 66 per cent of the total tourism revenue generated by the nine annually recurring events studied for the Gothenburg region. This demonstrates the importance of international youth tournaments for the region’s tourism industry, labor market, and long-term appeal.