Ironman World Championship Economic Impact to Local Economy

The 2023 IRONMAN World Championship took place in two locations in 2023 with the men racing in Nice, France on September 10 and the women racing in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 14.

Markrich Research, LLC performed a study of the economic impact of the two-day 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon held in Kailua-Kona with more than 5,000 registered athletes. It produced a total economic impact of over $159 million. Of the total, approximately $139 million stayed on the Big Island. The additional impact came from athletes, family, and friends traveling to other parts of Hawai`i.

In 2019, the single day IRONMAN World Championship generated a total economic impact of $72 million per a study conducted by Markrich Research, LLC. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 event brought over 24,500 athletes and attendees to Hawai`i, generating the largest economic boost to Hawai`i in the 40-plus year history of the event. Athletes stayed an average of 19 days, while their family and friends stayed an average of 13 days.

The 2023 race included 2,000 women. The presence of athletes, along with their supporters and event personnel, not only brings a sense of vibrancy and excitement to Kailua-Kona and the island of Hawai`i but also continues to contribute significantly to the local economy through increased tourism, accommodation bookings, dining, and retail spending.