A post-visit report on Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor released this week puts the final attendance at 323,223 and the economic activity generated at almost $200 million. Over an eight-month run at WA Museum Boola Bardip, Terracotta Warriors became the most successful exhibition the museum has ever staged, on both visitor numbers and economic impact.
“The exceptional performance of the Terracotta Warriors exhibition demonstrates the impact of investment in arts and culture, and how this investment can connect communities and enrich lives,” said Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk.
“The exhibition has further enhanced the WA Museum’s reputation as a leading international partner capable of delivering world-class experiences for audiences.”
The show put more than 225 Chinese artefacts on display, paired with multimedia and immersive technology, and recorded a 94 per cent satisfaction rating.
The figures that tell the State Government what the exhibition returned in economic value suggest that for every dollar invested, it returned $10.00 in value.
It was big for tourism, too, with roughly 30 per cent of visitors coming from outside the Perth metro area. That’s more than 90,000 people travelling from regional WA, interstate, and overseas, and that group alone contributed close to $72 million to the State’s economy.
“The Terracotta Warriors exhibition shows how our creative industries make major contributions to Western Australia’s economy – creating jobs and supporting local businesses,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“Some 30 per cent of the visitors came from outside Perth, contributing nearly $72 million to our local economy.”
“With a return on investment of $10.00 for every dollar spent, this demonstrates the value of investing in cultural tourism in Western Australia.”
That tourism spend also drove hotel stays and spend at bars and restaurants, with more than 73,000 visitor nights attributed to exhibition visitors and nearly $4 million in spending with local suppliers.
