T IN THE PARK is worth £7.5 million to the Perth and Kinross economy and more than double that nationally, a report revealed yesterday.

Scotland’s biggest music festival has been based at Balado, near Milnathort and Kinross, for 10 years.

Next month’s event sold out in record time and an extra batch of tickets were snapped up in a matter of minutes on Saturday.

An economic study has found the festival is now worth £18m to Scotland’s economy.

According to the report, T in the Park provides £7.5m to Perth and Kinross and another £10.5m to tourism through worldwide media coverage.

Some 75,000 music-lovers will flock to the two-day event on July 8 and 9.

Many of the world’s most popular bands are appearing, including the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, The Charlatans, Primal Scream and The Who.

The economic benefit comes from the creation of thousands of seasonal jobs—equivalent to 260 full-time posts—and customer spend on travel to and from the festival and other income.

It has has risen from just £1 million in 1999, when the last report was commissioned and the festival catered for 40,000 customers.

The findings said there are significant opportunities for public bodies such as Visit-Scotland and EventScotland to become involved.

Since it began in Strath- clyde Country Park in 1994, the event has not received a public subsidy.

The study into its economic benefit was commissioned by Scottish Enterprise, Perth and Kinross Council and organiser DF Concerts.

A spokesman for DF Concerts said, “There’s huge opportunity for public bodies to get involved with T in the Park to maximise the festival.”

On Saturday, 12,000 extra tickets for T in the Park sold out in just 10 minutes.

They became available after some tickets were cancelled following an anti-touting operation.

Tickets sold out in record time when they were initially issued in February.

Alan Livingstone, the council’s enterprise convener said, “Perth and Kinross Council was delighted to be a partner in commissioning this economic impact study.

“This report confirms that T in the Park—as the largest event held in Perth and Kinross—has a substantial economic impact on the area and is a major contributor to enhanced national and international media coverage of the area.

“The council recognises the fact that events are a vital contributor to the local economy and we look forward to continuing to work with T in the Park to maximise the tourism, business and media benefits this event brings to Perth and Kinross and to Scotland.”

A Scottish Enterprise Tayside spokesperson added, “Scottish Enterprise and key partners developed the model used to deliver the economic impact study of T in the Park.

“The model has produced a revealing insight into the significant contribution the event makes to the Scottish economy.”