Dumfries & Galloway’s events sector is buoyant, and the region’s beacon events are creating new wealth and opportunities within the regional economy.

That is the message from Dumfries & Galloway Council in the week after the Wickerman Festival won the accolade of best Grassroots Festival at the national UK Festivals Awards.

A report being prepared for Councillors identifies that six major events in Dumfries & Galloway:

• the Book Town Festival,
• Spring Fling,
• Kirkcudbright 2000’s 2007 art exhibition (Consider the Lilies),
• the Wickerman
• the World Ceilidh
• and Hairth Festivals near Carsphairn, were directly responsible for attracting visitor spending of £3.55million this year.
  
  The forecast is that this figure could rise to £5million or more by 2009, as these events near maturity and their marketing reach increases even further.