New report states that 2019 Rugby World Cup generated billions in total economic impact

Last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan was the most economically successful in the tournament’s history, a new report by EY has announced.

The 44-day competition generated the equivalent of £2.3 billion to Japan’s GDP, attracting 242,000 international fans from 178 nations last autumn.

Those fans stayed for an average of 17 days in the country, visiting five cities, with 60% of spectators stating that they were visiting Japan for the first time.

Daily spend from fans was reported to be 4.6 times higher than the amount spent by the average visitor in the country the previous year.

The Japanese economy was also boosted substantially by hosting the World Cup. 46,000 jobs were either created or sustained during the tournament, with 13,000 volunteering jobs also filled. The report states that of these jobs created, many ‘will be supporting Tokyo 2020’*

Such has been the rise in popularity of rugby in Japan, ticketing also produced an impressive figure as well, with a total of 1.83 million tickets sold.

The key facts and figures from the Rugby World Cup 2019 report

• 242,000 international visitors staying average of 17 days v 14 days for RWC 2015
• 60 per cent of fans visiting Japan for the first time
• 90 per cent of fans said they would return to Japan
• 80 per cent of fans said they had an exceptional experience
• £4.3 billion total economic impact/£2.3 billion GDP increase
• £2.3 billion spent in Japan by international visitors
• £286 average spend per international visitor per night, almost double England 2015 (£4,574 total average v £2,400)
• RWC 2019 visiting fans spent 4.6 times more than the average visitor to Japan in 2018
• 46,340 jobs created or supported for the tournament
• RWC 2019 visitors stayed 17 days, compared to 14 days average at RWC 2015
• £2 million pledged for the Childfund Pass It Back programme, a partnership between Childfund, World Rugby, Asia Rugby and the JRFU
• 2.25 million people introduced to rugby in Asia via the Impact Beyond programme (769,000 children involved in tag rugby in elementary schools in Japan.

* Tokyo’s Summer Olympic Games, which have been postponed until 2021