A study released Tuesday finds the two-day air show held earlier this year in western Massachusetts had a significant impact on the local economy.
Researchers with the UMass Amherst Isenberg School’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Department estimated the Great New England Air Show held at Westover Air Base in Chicopee last May had a $14.9 million impact on the local economy.
Base spokesman Lt. Col. James Bishop said the boost the show gives to local hotels and restaurants is “icing on the cake”
" We do the air shows to show people the capability of the Air Force and to excite the next generation of pilots and engineers," explained Bishop.
This year’s air show was attended by 375,000 people.
Traffic, congestion, and vendor pricing were cited in the research study as on-going concerns for the event.
