Using regional input-output tables to measure the economic impact of religious events

Andrés Artal-Tur; José Miguel Navarro-Azorín; José María Ramos-Parreño; Andrés Artal-Tur; José Miguel Navarro-Azorín; José María Ramos-Parreño

doi:10.3934/NAR.2026016

National Accounting Review

2026, Volume 8, Issue 3: 358-383. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2026016

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Research article

Using regional input-output tables to measure the economic impact of religious events

Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Technical University of Cartagena, Pza. Cronista Isidoro Valverde, PC 30202 Cartagena, Spain

Received: 15 December 2025 Revised: 13 April 2026 Accepted: 30 April 2026 Published: 10 July 2026
JEL Codes: C67, R11, Z12, Z32

The Holy Week in the Region of Murcia constitutes a major cultural and tourism resource, attracting substantial visitor flows from within Spain and abroad. With four celebrations—Lorca, Murcia, Cartagena, and Jumilla—designated as Festivals of International Tourist Interest, the region stands out nationally for the scale and distinctiveness of its Holy Week traditions. Beyond their religious foundations, these events integrate art, heritage, and local identity, generating significant economic activity while contributing to social development and cultural continuity. Building on growing recognition that event impacts extend beyond economic outcomes, this paper analyzed both the economic and socio-cultural effects of Holy Week in Lorca and Cartagena. The study was framed within contemporary event impact literature, which increasingly calls for multidimensional assessments that incorporate social and cultural outcomes alongside traditional economic indicators. Using input–output methodology, the first part of the analysis estimated the economic impact of Holy Week in terms of generated production, local value added, and employment creation. Complementing these results, the second part examined the socio-cultural contributions of the festivals through more than 700 online surveys administered to event organizers. Findings reveal substantial benefits in cultural preservation, community identity, social cohesion, and individual well-being, reflecting the festivals' broader role in local and regional development. By integrating economic and socio-cultural dimensions, this research advances existing studies on religious events, which have predominantly focused on economic effects. The results underscore the multifaceted value of Holy Week in Lorca and Cartagena and highlight the need for comprehensive assessment frameworks capable of capturing the diverse impacts of cultural events. The paper concludes by summarizing its main contributions and outlining implications for tourism planning and event policy in the Region of Murcia.
- event impact assessment,
- input–output analysis,
- socio-cultural impact,
- religious tourism,
- regional development
Citation: Andrés Artal-Tur, José Miguel Navarro-Azorín, José María Ramos-Parreño. Using regional input-output tables to measure the economic impact of religious events[J]. National Accounting Review, 2026, 8(3): 358-383. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2026016

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Abstract

The Holy Week in the Region of Murcia constitutes a major cultural and tourism resource, attracting substantial visitor flows from within Spain and abroad. With four celebrations—Lorca, Murcia, Cartagena, and Jumilla—designated as Festivals of International Tourist Interest, the region stands out nationally for the scale and distinctiveness of its Holy Week traditions. Beyond their religious foundations, these events integrate art, heritage, and local identity, generating significant economic activity while contributing to social development and cultural continuity. Building on growing recognition that event impacts extend beyond economic outcomes, this paper analyzed both the economic and socio-cultural effects of Holy Week in Lorca and Cartagena. The study was framed within contemporary event impact literature, which increasingly calls for multidimensional assessments that incorporate social and cultural outcomes alongside traditional economic indicators. Using input–output methodology, the first part of the analysis estimated the economic impact of Holy Week in terms of generated production, local value added, and employment creation. Complementing these results, the second part examined the socio-cultural contributions of the festivals through more than 700 online surveys administered to event organizers. Findings reveal substantial benefits in cultural preservation, community identity, social cohesion, and individual well-being, reflecting the festivals' broader role in local and regional development. By integrating economic and socio-cultural dimensions, this research advances existing studies on religious events, which have predominantly focused on economic effects. The results underscore the multifaceted value of Holy Week in Lorca and Cartagena and highlight the need for comprehensive assessment frameworks capable of capturing the diverse impacts of cultural events. The paper concludes by summarizing its main contributions and outlining implications for tourism planning and event policy in the Region of Murcia.

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