This year's Wanganui Festival Of Glass had an economic benefit to Wanganui of at least $200,000, according to one of the festival organisers.
Helen Craig said while the final figures for the festival were not yet tallied up, it was certain that the festival was a financial shot in thearm for the city.
"There's no doubt it's a significant event for Wanganui."
Ms Craig said one group of 18 people had spent at least $18,000 over 10 days in the city. In total, $30,000 worth of glass art was sold during the festival.
So successful was this year's Festival Of Glass that Ms Craig said organisers were considering re-branding it the New Zealand Festival Of Glass next year. She said holding the National Glass Conference and workshops around it had also contributed to the success of the festival. "We had glass artists and art lovers come from Australia, Japan and the United States, and that gave the festival real guts," Ms Craig said.
Around 40 per cent of the 2000 visitors to the festival were from out of town. "People just love coming here for the festival. They love the easy access, all the events and catching up with old friends."
Ms Craig said it was extremely disappointing that UCOL had decided not to accept new glass students in 2013 but was adamant that would not affect next year's festival.
"We have to move forward and do this independently of UCOL," she said. "Wanganui has an international reputation as a glass centre, and we want to keep building on that."
