Sustainability and Impact Analysis of Chingay Parade Festival

This report provides an evaluation and analysis of the Chingay Parade, an annual festival held in Singapore during the Chinese New Year. It details the festival's background, purpose, and initiation, which was originally intended to mitigate the effects of firecracker bans. The report conducts a triple bottom line assessment, examining the event's economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts, along with stakeholder considerations. It further explores the festival's sustainability efforts and offers recommendations for improvement, focusing on reducing negative environmental impacts such as noise pollution and promoting overall sustainability through event planning and collaboration with relevant organizations. The report concludes that while the festival serves its initial purpose, continued efforts are needed to minimize its broader impacts.

0Running head: EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Events and festivals
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Executive summary
The purpose of this report is to evaluate and analyse the festival that takes place annually
every year during the Chinese New Year in Singapore. The report provides a brief summary
of the festival, how it was initiated and the purpose behind the festival. The report further
provides a triple bottom line of the event. The economic impact of the event, the stakeholders
of the event, the social and cultural impact of the event, and the environmental impact of the
event. The report provides a brief analysis of how the festival can achieve its desired level of
sustainability. Lastly, the report provides recommendations so as to improve the
sustainability of the event and to reduce to negative impact on the environment. The report
concludes that the festival, which was initiated to reduce the effects of firecrackers yet the
festival, needs to reduce the impacts of noise pollution and other impacts on the economic,
social, cultural and environmental impacts.

2EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Background of the event.....................................................................................................4
2. Literature review....................................................................................................................4
2.1 Meaning and Experience OR Events & Tourism..................................................................4
2.2 Authenticity and Comodification..........................................................................................5
2.3 Festivalization of events.........................................................................................................5
3. Discussion findings................................................................................................................6
3.1 Stakeholder............................................................................................................................7
3.2 Economic outcome...............................................................................................................7
3.3 social and cultural outcomes:..............................................................................................8
3.4 Environmental impact.........................................................................................................8
4. Sustainability events...............................................................................................................9
5. Recommendations................................................................................................................10
6. Conclusion............................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12

3EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Introduction
The report revolves around a festival that is Chin gay parade which takes place
annually in Singapore during the third weekend of the lunar New Year. It takes place during
the Chinese New Year. The report elaborates on the main reason behind the celebration of
this festival and how this festival was initiated to compensate the ban on firecrackers. The
report initiates with a brief summary about the event and the festival which is based in
Singapore under the heading of literature review. The report further discusses about the triple
bottom line impact which includes the social and cultural impact, the economic impact and
the environment impact of the event. The report discusses about the sustainability of the
events. Lastly, the report provides recommendations to increase the sustainability of the
report and finally concludes that sustainability of this event can be increased by the principles
and the planning of the event and utilising the other organization to achieve the event targets.

4EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
1.2 Background of the event
Chingey parade is celebrated annually as a street parade which is held in Malaysia and
Singapore (Andersson, & Lundberg, 2013). It is celebrated in the honour of the birthday
celebrated of the Chinese Goddess. The Goddess of mercy is celebrated during the chingay
parade. It was mainly held to worship the deity of Goddess mercy. This event was mainly
originated in China. However, today not only the Chinese but also attracts tourists from in
and around Malaysia. The Malaysians and Indians are some of the participants in Chingay
parade. In this parade a performers carries a giant flag which ranges from 25 to 32 feet in
height. The term itself has been originated in the southeast part of Asia. The word Chingay
originally means true art or a decorated miniature stage. Currently this parade is celebrated
with its full spirits in all part of Singapore and Malaysia.
2. Literature review
2.1 Meaning and Experience OR Events & Tourism
Chingay parade is held every year in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The meaning
of chingay parade is goddess mercy, which is the deity of China. It comprises of the Chinese
words Chingay which means ‘true art’, it also means “a decorated miniature stag”. The words
have been originated from the community of China in Southeast Asia. Today the festival is
celebrated with all its colour and vigour.
People experiencing the chingay parade often reviewed it as a wonderful festival that
brings together people and mingles the performance throughout the Singaporean culture.
Singapore being a dynamic vibrant and a multicultural society celebrates the festival of
Chingay Parade, known for its largest street performance and float parade in Asia (Yeoman,.
et al,2014). The festival marvels with its dazzling floats, the dancing dragons and stilt

5EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
walkers. This festival is celebrated by the multicultural society by Chinese, Malaysians,
Indians, as well as the Eurasians (Chow & Dula, 2013).
The grand Chingay Parade is characterised by high spirited performers with costumes
of various cultures, backgrounds and ethnicity. The Chingay parade is filled noise and gaiety,
people can experience the performance of different cultures and backgrounds, the floats
displayed dazzlingly, a colourful incarnation of the country’s multicultural society
(stb.gov.sg, 2018). It parade features various ethnic communities which showcase different
communities in harmony with various other communities. This ironic event offers to its
audience a treasured sight into the dynamism of the multi-culture in Singapore and amazing
global cultures regardless of race, age, caste or creed. This event unifies different cultures as
one (Chang, & Mahadevan, 2014).
2.2 Authenticity and Co modification
The visitors of the parade as well the local people review this festival as “authentic”.
There are significant differences in the contents of the culture as it involves participation of
various people from different culture and communities. The local people of the parade and
the viewers have presented their constructive review of authenticity regarding the cultural
event. The visitors from other places viewing the event have more existential review on the
authenticity of the festival (Chang, & Mahadevan, 2014). They relate to the enjoyments and
excitements of the festival. Non commoditised experience is involved in the festival; the
event is volunteered by the local people for the visitors of the festivals and participants in the
festivals.
2.3 Festivalization of events
The Chingay parade is listed as one of the top mega trends which have a positive
impact in the event industry. The events consist of various cultural programs of different

6EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
communities. Recently, the festival has focused on bringing innovation. The festival focused
on creating an attractive atmosphere for the people in the festival (Ballantyn., Ballantyne, &
Packer, 2014). In relevance to festivalization the organizer of the event, has brought up
informal setting for the entertainment of the viewers rather than the traditional format of
events (Yeoman, et al, 2014).
3. Discussion findings
The event discusses on the stakeholders of the festival, it identifies the positive a
negative effects on the stakeholders in respect to the festival. It provides brief analysis of the
responsibilities and the duties of the stakeholders. The report discusses on the social and
economic impact on the events, it elaborates on the positive and negative impact on the
society as a whole including the visitors from the other countries and the local people. It
describes the impact of the events on the viewers and participants.

7EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
3.1 Stakeholders
For making a critical discussion of the stakeholders it is important to identify who are
the stakeholders. The stakeholders of this event are those individuals who are highly
interested in this activity. The stakeholders are in need and have certain expectation from the
festival. These stakeholders can be positively or negatively affected by the activities. There is
certain step in identifying he stakeholders. Stakeholders include event organiser, event
Management Company, sponsors, funders and investors. All the employees and the
workforce including volunteers, the crews and the contracted stuff the hired labours
throughout all the levels of the organizations. Stakeholders include the venue and emergency
services, ambulance, fire which is vital requirement in organizing a festival. The participants
are also part of stakeholders, the speakers, performers, traders. Chingay parade is organized
by people’s association which is a government agency in Singapore. It is an effect of major
collaborations of the public and private sectors. Chingay parade encourages greater
involvement of small and medium enterprises. The small and medium enterprises supports in
organizing the parade (Quinn, 2013).
3.2 Economic outcome
According to (Chang, et al., 2014). In these festive seasons, the consumption rate is
higher; there is a sudden increase in the demand of commodities. However, this festival leads
to better market situations as the purchasing power is increased. The tickets sold to the views
and participants contribute to the GDP of the host country (Robertson & Frew, (Eds.). 2013).
Communities gain specific benefits from this festival. This festival offers a common ground
for families and friends to spend time with each other. Moreover, this festival brings together
varieties of culture and background of different countries and this parade unites different
culture as one (Holmes, Mair, & Carlsen,.2015). There are many communities who rely of

8EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
this festival to bring all residents and relatives together to celebrate the dynamic culture of the
country around them. The planning of these festivals is mainly to ensure the most beneficial
attractions which are provided to the participants and attendees (Kostopoulou, Vagionis, &
Kourkouridis, 2013).
3.3 social and cultural outcomes:
There are positive as well as negative impacts on the society of cultural of the
communities. The positive impacts are shared experience, the country host more than
180,000 guests from all across the world (Holmes, Mari, & Carlsen, .2015). There are over
75 countries experiencing the same event. This festival also introduces various ways and new
ideas to the other culture. The negative impacts may be when tickets are sold out, many might
feel isolated and excluded from the festival (Kostopoulou, Vagionis, & Kourkouridis, 2013).
This gives negative impact to in the event. However, this event brings in satisfaction mutually
with other communities. In this event Singapore welcomes the other countries. (Yeoman, et
al, 2014).
3.4 Environmental impact
Festivals are indeed of great entertainment and causes excitement among the
citizens. It has lot of economic value and enhances the socio cultural of the viewers. It’s a
platform were different performers showcase their culture and grandness. Though the event
unifies all the cultures of different countries, the usage of loud musical instruments and
loudspeakers can lead to noise pollution. With this kind of public celebration, it aggravates
this social issue (Holmes et al., 2015). However, there are many shortcomings of this event is
leads to various environmental issues. This poses grave threat to public health. This festival
leads to generation of dry waste. There are leaps of garbage including, flowers, food
packages and other dry waste. Therefore, it is essential to switch to eco friendly ways of

9EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
celebrating the festival. There are transport issues as well during the parade; vehicles exhaust
fumes by the festival goers, thereby causing carbon emission which puts an impact on the
environment. This issues needs to be quickly addressed by the event organizer. (Litvin, Pan
& Smith ,2013). Usage of public transport is to be encouraged by the organizers so as to
reduce the use of public transport which further increases emission of carbon.
Environmentally, themed talks must be incorporated into the festival (Robertson, & Frew,
2013). Others organizations are there to help organize festivals, they are A Greener Festival
and Sustainable Event Alliance (Mair, & Laing, 2013). Festivals organizers can make use of
these organizations, in order to greener the festivals ( Ballantyne, 2014).
4. Sustainability events
Sustainable events can be defined as an event which has been organised with outmost
concern for the environment, economic and environmental issues. Sustainability in event
implies that the organizer have taken decisions and planned the event or festival socially, and
environmentally responsible manner. Sustainability of events implies that all levels of the
event organization must include principles and practices which are sustainable (Mair, &
Laing, 2013). The purpose of this is to ensure that the event is organized responsibly and that
the event is done in an integrated way. Green event must be the main priority and must begin
at the inception planning ( Litvin, Pan, & Smith, 2013). Creating sustainable events is a part
of every event. It is the responsibility of the event planner to make the events sustainable and
environment friendly. There are variety of ideas which can be implemented the event
organizer.
The festival and event organizers need to be conscious of the economic, social and
environmental impacts. They must take measures to reduce or eliminate various types of
environmental effects because of the festival (Andersson, & Lundberg, 2013). The

10EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
environmentally literate audience, in their part must bring in the desired results. Moreover,
the event organizer needs to look into the challenge of environmental sustainability and to
execute efforts in areas so as to reduce operational expenses. The organisers must look into
the treatment of sewage, reduce other dry waste, and eliminate the use products and materials
in the parade that are harmful for the environment (Richards, 2013). Through the use of
festival resources, efforts should be made for enhancement of ecology for habitat restoration.
There are various programs such as International Standard for Sustainable Event
Management (ISO 2012) which offers a systematic plan for face the challenges of organizing
more sustainable events and festivals.
5. Recommendations
Regarding the environmental impacts, the environmental damage and noise
pollution caused due to the festival, awareness among the participants and the viewers must
be initiated, which must include the reduce, recycle and reuse ( Mair, et al., 2013). The host
country can take the initiated to keep the environment safe and clean. In regarding with the
traffic jam issue faced during the festive season, viewers may be asked to make use of the
public transport or use a share a car; this will reduce traffic jam and also reduce air and noise
pollution. This will further reduce the carbon gas emissions (Van Winkle & Woosnam,
2014). In regard with the political issues faced during the festival, the organizers could take a
survey using the social media platforms or any other media through which the number of
participants and viewers can be understood so as to organize and plan the event in a proper
way (Ballantyn., Ballantyne, & Packer, 2014). Lastly, before organizing the event it is
recommended to analyze and plan the financial requirements of the event. This will enable

11EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
the event organizers to arrange a sponsorship and according providing them with the record
of financial requirement and they may likewise determine their budget.
6. Conclusion
Therefore from the above research it can be concluded that Chingay Parade,
an event based in Singapore. Singapore celebrates this festival with full vigour and vibrant.
Being a multicultural society this festival brings together various culture and background of
different countries. Chingay parade is mainly celebrated to compensate a ban on the
firecrackers and it is believed to drive away the evil spirits. The event is volunteered by the
locals of the country and the event affect has various impacts on the viewers and the
performers of the festival. Therefore it can be said that the festival is initiated to eliminate
noise pollution and air pollution, as it reduces the use of firecrackers in the New Years Eve.
However, there are triple bottom line impacts of this festival. There is both positive and
negative impact on the social and cultural of the people. There are economic impacts on the
host country as well, as the demand and supply increases. The sustainability of the event
depends on various factors like the principles and the planning of the event must be inclined
towards sustainability of the event. However, there are recommendations provided in the
research to increase the sustainability of the event.

12EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
References
Andersson, T. D., & Lundberg, E. (2013). Commensurability and sustainability: Triple
impact assessments of a event. Event management, 37, 99-109.
Ballantyne, J., Ballantyne, R., & Packer, J. (2014). Designing and managing music festival
experiences to enhance attendees’ psCollins, A., & Cooper, C. (2017).
Measuring and managing the environmental impact of festivals: the
contribution of the Ecological Footprint. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism, 25(1), 148-162.ychological and social benefits. Musicae
Scientiae, 18(1), 6Mair, J., & Laing, J. H. (2013). Encouraging pro-
environmental behaviour: the role of sustainability-focused events. Journal of
sustainable tourism, 21(8), 1113-1128.5-83.
Chang, S., & Mahadevan, R. (2014). Fad, fetish or fixture: contingent valuation of
performing and visual arts festivals in Singapore. International journal of
cultural policy, 20(3), 318-340.
Chow, C., & Dula, C. (2013). Chingay Parade: Opportunities in Community Engagement and
Corporate Social Responsibility in Singapore.
Goh, D. P. (2013). Multicultural carnivals and the politics of the spectacle in global
Singapore. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 14(2), 228-251.
Holmes, K., Hughes, M., Mair, J., & Carlsen, J. (2015). Events and sustainability. Routledge.
Kostopoulou, S., Vagionis, N., & Kourkouridis, D. (2013). Cultural festivals and regional
economic development: Perceptions of key interest groups. In Quantitative
methods in tourism economics (pp. 175-194). Physica, Heidelberg.

13EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Litvin, S., Pan, B., & Smith, W. (2013). Festivals, special events, and the “rising
tide”. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality
Research, 7(2), 163-168.
M. Van Winkle, C., & M. Woosnam, K. (2014). Sense of community and perceptions of
festival social impacts. International Journal of Event and Festival
Management, 5(1), 22-38.
Mair, J., & Laing, J. H. (2013). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: the role of
sustainability-focused events. Journal of sustainable tourism, 21(8), 1113-
1128.
Quinn, B. (2013). Arts festivals, urban tourism and cultural policy. In Culture and the
City (pp. 77-92). Routledge.
Richards, G. (2013). Exploring the social impacts of events. Routledge.
Robertson, M., & Frew, E. (Eds.). (2013). Events and festivals: current trends and issues.
Routledge.
Yeoman, I., Robertson, M., McMahon-Beattie, U., Backer, E., & Smith, K. A. (Eds.).
(2014). The Future of Events & Festivals. Routledge.