BizJournals.com – The double-whammy of supporters and protesters coming to town for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration could boost the region by $1 billion, on par with the historic 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama.
That calculation comes from economist Stephen Fuller, who crunched the numbers for us this week.
An Architect of the Capitol employee works next to a camera stand on the west front of the U.S. Capitol in preparation for the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington. As it does every four years, the inaugural will bring an economic boost to D.C. during what is usually a slow month for tourism.
The 200,000 to 400,000 people estimated to be attending official inaugural events — the oath of office, the parades and the balls — would bring in about $707 million in direct spending and the associated “ripple effect,” according to Fuller, who works at George Mason University and studies economic impact for major local events.
But if protesters who say they are coming that same weekend actually follow through — 500,000 to 1 million of them, by Fuller’s count — that would bring in another $332 million in direct spending and economic benefits. That means $1 billion combined on the low end or $1.34 billion if attendance reaches the higher estimate.
The economic impact from protesters depends on several variables, chief of which is whether the organizers actually get permits. Most of the events have not yet received permits, as The Washington Post has reported, which could make it tough for protesters to book their travel. There are 19 groups seeking permits to demonstrate.
The largest of the events, the Women’s March on Washington planned for the day after the inauguration, received approval on Friday for its starting point and general route from an inter-agency task force, according to spokeswoman Cassady Fendlay. She said organizers are not worried that the permit delay would hinder attendance. A national Facebook page for the event lists 144,000 people as “going” and another 231,000 as “interested.”
This is fantastic news! The more the merrier! We at GreatAgain.com support every American’s right to protest. Even the Inauguration of the President of the United States. But, especially when it benefits Americans to the tune of a billion dollars! You can protest us anytime!
Images Source: Media.us
