Culture win could create more than 18,000 jobs

The designation of Galway as the European City of Culture in 2020 has the potential to create over 18,000 jobs.

Following the euphoria on the streets last Friday on hearing the announcement, the Galway 2020 project team have stressed in a press briefing this week that the massive economic benefits of the title will not just be confined to the tourism sector.

The leader of the business engagement team, Mark O’Donnell, said Galway’s top companies see the designation as a huge opportunity to attract and retain skilled workers, which in turn will attract more multinationals to the region who will generate further jobs.

“…For selling Galway City and Galway County for foreign direct investment, it’s very, very beneficial, for small indigenous producers within the county that are exporting to Europe this will put Galway on the map in a way it hasn’t been before on a global stage,” he insisted.

“So for our smaller businesses that have export capacity, be it down the line or whatever, that’s going to create huge opportunities for them as well.”

Project leader Patricia Philbin said all of Galway would benefit from increased opportunities for employment.

“Galway has secured probably the biggest opportunity in its history so there’s a responsibility on us all to make the absolute maximum out of it. It is going to change Galway and it is going to find opportunities for all those young people who are leaving our towns and our cities.”

“It’s a national designation; Galway will be representing Ireland in Europe and we have to use the opportunities to the max in terms of the leverage of other investment towards the west to make sure that Galway is ready to deliver the most successful programme we can.”

Galway City Chief Executive Brendan McGrath said the experience of other cities has shown that for 55 additional visitors, one extra job is created. At least one million extra visitors are expected to come west in 2020, which translates to 18,181 jobs.

Other cities have reported an increase of between 10 and 25% in tourists in the decade following the designation

“The economic benefits will be long lasting and tangible,” he predicted.