The event, which took place on 23-27 July, was executed by French street theatre company Royal de Luxe, which created a story centred on giant marionette puppets around the city of Liverpool. Memories of August 1914 was commissioned jointly by Liverpool City Council and 14-18 NOW, the First World War centenary cultural programme.
A report published today (20 October), produced by The Murray Consultancy, revealed the success of the event including visitor numbers, the percentage of local, national and international visitors and the impact on the local economy.
- The event helped to bring in £46m into the local economy
- Around 300,000 of the visitors were from outside the city region, including such locations as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Wales
- Australia, France and Hong Kong were some of the most common places people outside of the UK had travelled from
- The average spend per person for someone from Liverpool was £19
- The average spend per person for someone outside the city region was £107
- Around 160,000 visitors had never been to Liverpool before
- 41% of visitors were part of groups, including young and old family members
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: "We anticipated that the return of the Giants would have a massive impact, but this report shows it has surpassed our expectations.
"To have one million people specifically come to the city to experience a free cultural event is really rewarding, and the economic boost is one of the biggest this city has ever experienced."
He added that with the city being able to host the UK’s flagship cultural commemoration marking the WW1 centenary, it was an incredibly important moment in its history. "This event connected hundreds of thousands of people with the story of the First World War and inspired many to reflect on the impact this momentous time had on their families and the city as a whole."
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