Merida, Yucatan, May 18, 2023. – A great economic, gastronomic, tourist and cultural inflow of more than 150 million pesos, including tourist services, restaurants, souvenirs and transportation, entered the festival of innovation and the arts a la White Night. Art a Tope, in its fifteenth edition.
In the presentation of the results of a study carried out by the Faculty of Economics of UADY on the direct and indirect income generated by La Noche Blanca, which was requested by the Directorate of Culture, it was obtained that it is a consolidated party, well organized, safe and with an influx of more than 75 thousand people, mainly with national visits.
The White Night and Its Eve took place on 12 and 13 May, with 1,400 participants including artists and exhibitors, once again establishing Mérida as a benchmark for arts and culture in the country.
The presentation of the study was held in the Videosala of the Olimpo Cultural Center and was in charge of Dr. Javier Beseril García, full-time research professor at the Faculty of Economics of the Autonomous University of Yucatán.
The quantitative study was conducted during May 12 and 13 in the historic center area and the sample consisted of 1,693 people. It was also carried out through social networks on 14 and 15 May. The confidence level was 99% and only 3% margin of error.
Along with Dr. Baseril, the working group included Diana Castillo Loaza (PADES AC), Francisco Iván Hernández Cuevas (Merist University of Mérida) and 20 youth.
According to statistics, the cultural event generated an estimated economic benefit of $156.63 million pesos between the two dates.
Women (51%) enjoyed the activities more than men (46%). The average age of the interviewees was 32 and 45% had attended university.
The study highlights the number of domestic visitors (94%) compared to foreigners (6%), although the latter were the ones who spent the most on their stay.
The White Night had visitors from 29 states of the republic, of whom 64% came from Yucatan. It also received visitors from the State of Mexico, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz and to a lesser extent from other entities.
In terms of transportation, most attendees used a car (41%), followed by an Uber service (21%), bus (15%), walking (15%), taxi (5%), motorcycle (3%) and bicycle (2%). %).
The sites where most visitors sought cultural experiences (there were people who visited more than one site) were Paseo de Montejo (60%), followed by Plaza Grande, the Santa Ana neighborhood, Calle 60, Santiago and to a lesser extent Remedy. other local neighborhoods.
Through social networks, people published content about La Noche Blanca on Facebook (59%), Instagram (13%), Mérida City Hall Municipality Portal (17%) and the rest through WhatsApp, Twitter and other social networks found out through.
In the networks of the Directorate of Culture and the Merida City Council, 704,275 users were reached, generating 2,105,043 impressions.
For cultural events, people preferred to enjoy activities as a couple (36.7%), as a family (26%), with friends (26.8%), and there were also people who decided to participate alone (10.6%) Did.
In gastronomic matters, food service, the type of dinner, was the most demanded product during La Noche Blanca 2023 by 55% of the visitors; This was followed by drinks (45%) while music shows, bazaars and visual arts each accounted for 39% of visitor opinion. (The sum is not 100%, as there are people who have used more than one service).
With regard to housing, 64% of those interviewed reported not using an accommodation service, and those who did reported staying at family or friends’ homes, renting, moving into a hotel, and using Airbnb and hostel services. chose to do
The findings of the socioeconomic and demographic profile show that La Noche Blanca is a party accessible to all public, with a wide range of recreational possibilities, a family atmosphere, with the identity value of regional traditions of Yucatan and a gastronomic sample accessible . All kinds of people. pocket.
On behalf of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Experienced Food Industry (CANIRAC Yucatán), its president, Claudia González Góngora, celebrated the collaborative work and highlighted the success achieved in the fifteenth edition of La Noche Blanca, a festival organized by the City Council Initiative. Merida and its Mayor Renan Barrera Concha..
Reports from the chamber-affiliated restaurant community indicate that they had 80 to 100 percent occupancy at establishments, especially those that operated in the historic center.
This May edition also had 30% more inflows than the one held in 2022 last October. “Civic participation was noticeable, people consumed, there was a craft and gastronomic culture and the talents of thousands of people who contributed to make this event an unforgettable night of innovation.”
Alice Patrón Correa, councilor chairwoman of the Culture and Recreation Commission, recalled that the spirit of La Noche Blanca was to go out into the streets, walk and visit various points.
He also highlighted the work of the Municipal Police and the White Balance report, which consolidates Mérida as one of the safest cities in the country to visit and enjoy artistic and cultural events.
Culture director Irving Berlin Wilfana stressed that in addition to the large attendance at cultural activities in May, culture is measured in time and history.
Among the most sought-after events, he noted the tours of “Birdmen”. The Luminous Birds” by the Close-Act Theater Company which was presented for the first time in Mérida.
An influx of 12,000 people was recorded at the 31 galleries that opened their doors on Saturday night. He explained that future editions should include a study to learn about the consumption of art.
He highlighted the number of visitors to the MACAY and Palacio Canton museums (more than two thousand each), as well as to the exhibition “Fist, Palm, Pulse” by Gerda Gruber in the halls of the Olympo Cultural Center.
Presentation of the book “Acurela a Mérida”. Yucatan Songs for Guitar, by Cecilio Pereira, was another success that was enjoyed and would be for generations to come.
La Noche Blanca featured guest artists from Cuba, Colombia, Chile, the United States, and the Netherlands, as well as local and national talent.
He added that the La Noche Blanca program is interested in getting people out to enjoy it, but that subsequent editions should also seek the study of artistic consumption to strengthen the program.
