Hundreds of colorful balloons launch from Balloon Fiesta Park during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. Commercial hot air balloon pilots will now be required to have a second-class medical certificate. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Selena Montoya, 4, views a unicorn and a tiger balloon with her father, Albert Montoya, during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Thousands gathered to view the Special Shape Rodeo featuring 120 hot air balloons shaped as characters and objects. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
The “Father Bee” and “Mother Bee” inflate without their “Baby Bee” during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. The Joelly Bee balloon, also known as the popular “Baby Bee” hot air balloon, was found after being reported stolen from the crew’s hotel parking lot early Thursday. The stolen truck was recovered by APD. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Hannah Moon holds her 2-year-old daughter Ryleigh as they watch balloons inflate and lift into the sky during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Thousands gathered to view the Special Shape Rodeo featuring hot air balloons shaped as characters and objects. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Balloon pilot Michael Glen, center, shown Thursday evening with friends who wanted to snap a photo with him, is happy to have his “baby bee” balloon back after it was stolen overnight. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
(Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
(Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
(Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Spectators pack the field on the second day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Sunday. (ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS/JOURNAL)
Justin Roberts, left, of San Diego, California, and Lara Pearce, of Los Angeles, California, sport colorful bird hats at Sunday's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. (ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS/JOURNAL)
The truth is out there: that there are plenty of special shape balloons, including the flying saucer from São Paulo, Brazil, attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is celebrating its 50th year. (Mike Sandoval/For the Albuquerque Journal)
The crew of the Caprice du Ciel balloon, from France, prepares to stand the balloon during the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday. (Mike Sandoval/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Joy Sibayan fires flames into the air from a gondola at Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday evening. The Twilight Twinkle Glow was canceled due to inclement weather, while the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race was postponed also due to weather concerns. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
The ballooning community celebrates the 50th Balloon Fiesta with a balloon launch commemorating the original 13 balloons and pilots that took flight in 1972 at Coronado Center in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 30, 2022. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot Toby Brown, with Coronado Center, release flames from the burner creating hot air to inflate the balloon as the ballooning community celebrates the 50th Balloon Fiesta with a balloon launch commemorating the original 13 balloons and pilots that took flight in 1972 at Coronado Center in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 30, 2022. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
The ballooning community celebrates the 50th Balloon Fiesta with a balloon launch commemorating the original 13 balloons and pilots that took flight in 1972 at Coronado Center in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 30, 2022. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
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The 2022 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta had a total economic impact of $203 million on the Albuquerque economy, according to an economic impact study conducted by Forward Analytics.
Of that amount, $119 million was in direct spending by fiesta guests at metro area businesses.
The total economic impact was more than the $186 million generated during the 2019 fiesta – the last time such a study was conducted.
The nine-day 2022 event attracted nearly 828,800 guest visits — about 76% of them from outside of New Mexico.
The 50th Balloon Fiesta was also productive from the standpoint of taxes.
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The state of New Mexico received about $12.4 million in tax revenues, the city of Albuquerque gained about $5.88 million, and Bernalillo County got about $1.57 million.
“People from around the globe travel to New Mexico to watch the world’s largest gathering of balloonists take to the skies above Albuquerque,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday in a news release issued by the Balloon Fiesta. “The economic impact of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta lifts our entire state for far more than nine days a year.”
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, in the same release, said, “Burqueños welcome visitors from all around the world to share in the magic of (the) fiesta. The Balloon Fiesta generates important revenue that helps our entire community, and it’s great to see how small businesses and tourism benefit from this iconic event.”
Not counting parking and admission fees, Balloon Fiesta guests spent an average of $27 each at on-site concessions. This generated $64 million in wages for 1,227 full-time equivalent concession employees, at an annual salary of $52,263, according to Forward Analytics, which is commissioned by the Balloon Fiesta board to conduct a study every other year.
The last economic impact study was done for the 2019 fiesta and was released in 2020. The 2020 fiesta did not take place because of the pandemic.
Home » News » Albuquerque News » Here’s how much the 2022 Balloon Fiesta generated for the Albuquerque economy
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