The Lisbon Chamber said that the VYD profitability estimate could be known by the end of the year

The vice-president of the Lisbon Chamber said this Friday that the return on investment for World Youth Day (WYD) could be known before the end of the year, although the final study will not be ready until 2024.

“A global assessment requires at least a year of exercises, so a study developed by ISEG and a renowned consultant is planned to be presented next year” to “keep the effort consistent and thorough.” “, but “by the end of the year” it will be possible “to estimate more accurately what the profit is,” said Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP).

The Mayor spoke at the presentation of the final report of the WYD, prepared by the Executive, at the meeting of the 1st Standing Committee, together with the WYD Sub-Committee of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly.

According to the municipality, the cost of the WYD was one million euros below the estimated budget of 35 million euros, amounting to 33.9 million euros.

Of the total amount spent on the WYD, about 23.6 million are investments that remain for the future of the city, namely: Tagus Trancão Park (12.35 million), bicycle-pedestrian bridge over the Trancao River (4 million), equipment for fire brigade. Regiment of municipal police and municipal civil protection (5.89 million), work in public places, including renovation of bathrooms (970 thousand euros).

The municipality considered that “only 10.4 million euros are the costs that end with the WYD event”, and of the 236 public procurement procedures carried out, 15.3 million euros were carried out through public tenders, 14.4 million through the exception regime enshrined in state budget. and 2.2 million through other types of procedures under the general public procurement regime.

“More than half of the investment was carried out through public tenders, about 15.3 million euros, and 14.4 million euros were carried out through public tenders. [milhões] through direct adjustment,” stressed Anacoreta Correia from the Municipal Assembly Committee.

“If we take into account that 236 procedures were carried out, of which 206 were direct contracts, we understand that the average cost of a direct contract is about 60 thousand euros, that is, large amounts that were contracted were secured through an open tender.” , he emphasized.

The Vice-President acknowledged that direct awards “are common practice at all major events that the country has organized in the past,” which “has a lot to do with the fact that there is a fixed calendar of events,” but stressed that the municipality has decided to “always consult in advance.” » during procedures.

“We did it at a lower cost and in a transparent manner,” he emphasized.

Moreover, the exemption from the preliminary audit of the Court of Accounts did not mean a lack of oversight, since information relating to all GMR procedures was sent to the Court of Accounts during the process.

Regarding the return, the mayor has already pointed out the “forecast indicators” of the event: “234 thousand mentions on the day of World Youth Day and the city of Lisbon on social networks”, and RTP carries out “more than 235 hours of coverage of events throughout the Lisbon territory”. five continents in 160 countries.

“WYD and its programs were watched by some 500 million homes around the world,” said Filipe Anacoreta Correia, citing TV coverage of Euro 2004 in “150 million homes” as an example of this aspect.

In the tourism sector, the mayor highlighted that Lisbon ended August surpassing 2019’s figures, with global revenues growing by 37.6%.

Compared to 2022, it closes with a 19.4% increase in guest numbers and a 31.7% increase in revenue, according to the Lisbon Tourist Observatory and Infogeste.

“Moreover, there is a whole legacy associated with what is changing in the city,” says Anacoreta Correia, namely in Parque Tejo, a work “that is changing the city and will also be linked to this achievement” of WYD, which allowed “all efforts ” should be mobilized to create an urban park that “empowers the city.”

The President of the 1st Standing Committee of the Municipal Assembly, Irene Lopez (PS), explained that a new meeting will be called after municipal deputies have “read and studied” the report “to identify the most specific issues”, even “before the discussion of the city council budget Lisbon.

WYD is the largest gathering of young Catholics from around the world with the Pope, and this year it took place in Lisbon in the first week of August, with approximately 1.5 million people in attendance.