Two thirds of the investment made to start up FICOBA has already been recouped by the total activity generated by the fair ground since it was set up, which has accounted for 15.8 million euros. This is one of the conclusions of a study carried out by IKEI for the Gipuzkoa Chamber of Commerce on the economic impact of the activities carried out at Ficoba, from October 2003 to December 2006.

Since it opened, 268 activities have been carried out which 260,000 people have come to. In 2006, 104,000 people came which was 36% up on the previous year for a similar number of activities. In 2005, the increase was 8%. From this information it is clear that the activity carried out at the Fair Ground has shown a positive trend, especially in the last year analysed, as shown by the number of people turning up to the activities carried out. Likewise, each direct job at Ficoba, 13 people, generates 4 jobs in the local area (Bidasoa, Donostialdea…) in different sectors (business services, catering…).

The importance of the Fairs
The events held at FICOBA include fairs, exhibitions, conferences and cultural events among others. The fairs account for 11% of the activities carried out and have received 163,520 people which is 60% of the total number of people who have visited Ficoba. Of these fairs, those open to the general public account for 46%, the professional fairs 21% and, finally, popular fairs for the remaining 8%. The professional fairs with a trading purpose (exhibiting and presenting what companies have to offer) have received 20,308 visits. The public fairs organised for companies to exhibit and present what they offer to the general public have received 81,038 visits. And the popular fairs, for exhibition and leisure purposes, have been visited by 62,174 people. The fairs have absorbed 76% of the total cost of the organisation of events at Ficoba.

The average cost of organising an event varies quite significantly depending on the size, target audience, equipment and duration mainly. Of the 6.3 million euros of organisational costs for the events carried out at Ficoba since October 2003, 5.9 million euros have remained in the province of Gipuzkoa. Conferences, on the other hand, account for 10% of the total organisational costs of the activities as a whole at Ficoba and exhibitions and social events for approximately 5%. Finally, the other activities category, in spite of being the most numerous in terms of variety, barely accounts for 2%.

Other information: what users spend
There are two types of users of the activities carried out at Ficoba: the exhibiters and professional participants and those attending the events –professionals or members of the public-. The total spending generated by these users of the activity carried out at Ficoba totals 3.9 million euros. But moreover, it has been shown that those coming to activities at the fair ground contribute 76% of the spending generated by the total number of events held at the Ground.

Of this spending directly attributable to users, restaurants (51%) and catering (20%) are the main part. Accommodation accounts for 12.6% of spending, a figure which is in accordance with the type of visitors from the local area or region. In fact, over the last three years half of those people coming to the fairs organised by Ficoba were from the province of Gipuzkoa and 85% were from the Basque Country and Navarra.

Ficoba’s contribution to the region
1. The building is recognised and accepted, contributing to a revitalised, innovative and diversified image of the area, with citizens as a whole gradually seeing it that way. In this regard, the building has made a decisive contribution to a quality space for Irún and the local area, has dignified the border line, the connection to it and, therefore, brought the two regions together.
2. Ficoba has helped to boost cross-border relations and, likewise, is associated with advancing those relations and creating a meeting point, for people as well as businesses and economic activities.
3. The Bidasoa area clearly specialises in the tertiary sector, in which tourism, trade and business services have a high incidence and economic contribution.
4. Ficoba’s activities and business tourism (fairs, other events) contribute to and reinforce the diversification of local activity, as a cluster, progressively promoting joint action with the sectors most directly involved and likely to benefit. They help to boost the image and renown of Irún, Gipuzkoa and the Basque Autonomous Community outside the region.


About Ficoba
FICOBA was set up in 2003, promoted by the Bidasoa Fair Ground, with the aim of promoting and strengthening cross-border exchange, contributing to the socio-economic development of the Bidasoa area, the province of Gipuzkoa and the Basque Autonomous Community, Euskadi.