Jazzfestival Saalfelden: A Strong Economic Driver for the Region

According to a recent value creation study by the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS = Wirtschaftskammer Salzburg), the Jazzfestival Saalfelden delivers significant economic benefits and serves as a major driver for the region.
 
From 21 to 24 August 2025, the 45th edition of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden will take place, featuring a total of 184 musicians from 26 countries. Last year, the four-day festival attracted around 17,000 enthusiastic visitors - many attending multiple events - across its wide variety of venues. “The artistic quality of the Jazzfestival is well known. What had remained unclear until now was the festival’s specific economic impact on the region and Austria as a whole,” says Marco Pointner, festival organiser and tourism director of Saalfelden. Thanks to a recent value creation analysis by the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce based on the 2024 edition, there are now reliable figures highlighting the festival's economic contribution:
 
•    € 5.3 million in value creation across Austria, including € 4.2 million in Salzburg
•    75 full-time jobs in Austria, of which 69 are based in Salzburg
•    € 2 million in taxes and levies
 
The calculations were based on visitor spending during the 2024 festival, gathered through online surveys and mobile data analysis. On average, guests spent € 208 per day (including concert tickets). “With total expenditures amounting to around € 6.2 million, the festival not only creates beautiful sounds on stage but also rings the tills of businesses across multiple sectors,” says Christoph Fuchs, Head of Economic and Location Policy at WKS, pleased by the economic boost for the region. “The largest share of daily spending -  € 134 - went to accommodation and gastronomy. Visitors also found time to shop, spending an average of € 33 per day.”
 
“These figures make it clear: the Jazzfestival is not only a cultural beacon, but also a powerful economic engine for the region and beyond. Public and private investments in the event clearly pay off from an economic perspective,” Pointner continues. “Tax revenues including social contributions alone amount to € 2 million annually!” Daniela Neumayer, the festival’s production manager, adds: “An event of this scale wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated team. The study also shows that the festival secures or creates 75 jobs directly or indirectly - many of them right here in the Saalfelden region.”
 
 

Festival Guests from All Across Europe
 
The Jazzfestival Saalfelden is not only popular with locals from Salzburg, who account for the largest share of visitors at around 34%. They are followed by guests from Vienna (11%) and neighbouring Bavaria (10%). The festival also attracts visitors from Hungary, Norway, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. More than half of the attendees use tourist accommodation - on average for five days. Most bookings are made for two people and four nights.
 
A remarkable 82% of guests attended the festival due to the high artistic quality of the concerts. The unique atmosphere was also a key reason, cited by nearly half of respondents. The festival also serves as a meeting point for friends and acquaintances - 41% mentioned this as a motivation for their visit. Additionally, 11% attended the festival as part of a holiday and 6% came at the invitation of others.
 
“In Salzburg, culture and the economy often go hand in hand, benefiting both,” says Fuchs. “Over 90% of the employment effects and nearly 80% of the value creation remain in the province of Salzburg. The Jazzfestival Saalfelden is not just a cultural highlight - it’s an economic one too!”
 

Image (from left to right): Marco Pointner, organiser of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden; Daniela Neumayer, production manager of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden; Vanessa Kahn and Christoph Fuchs from Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS)
Photo credit: WKS/Kolarik