Tourism in Scotland is rebounding beyond pre-pandemic levels!

EDINBURGH, Scotland – In a remarkable turnaround, Scotland’s tourism industry has not only recovered from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but It also exceeded pre-pandemic levelssetting a new record for international visitors in 2023.

According to a passenger survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics, Scotland received an impressive 3.9 million foreign tourists Last year, amazing An increase of 15% compared to 2019. This exceeds the previous record of 3.7 million international visits set in 2018.

Edinburgh remains the most visited city outside of LondonIt attracted 2.3 million visitors, beating Manchester with 1.7 million visits and Birmingham with 934,000 visits.

The surge in visitors has also translated into a major boost for the Scottish economy Inbound visitors will spend £3.5 billion in 2023an increase of 13% over the previous year and a significant increase of 41% over the year 2019.

It seems that not only are more tourists flocking to Scotland, but they are also more willing to part with their hard-earned money while enjoying the country’s stunning landscapes, rich history and warm hospitality.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, praised the figures as “exemplary”. “A turning point for tourism in Scotland.” He stressed that Scotland is the only region in the United Kingdom to have reached this achievement, which is evidence of the strength of Scotland’s tourism offerings and the global appeal of its tourist attractions.

“Our international visitors are hugely important to Scotland’s tourism industry, as well as the wider economy.” He said raspyly. “They often stay longer and spend more, generating many billions of pounds a year, supporting a wide range of businesses, jobs and communities across the country.”

The majority of international visitors to Scotland in 2023 will come from Europe, accounting for 58% of all inbound visits, followed by North America at 24%.

The “Other Countries” category, which includes Australia and China, saw the largest increase compared to 2022, with a massive 53% growth in visitor numbers.

While Scotland’s tourism industry is undoubtedly celebrating this remarkable achievement, other parts of the UK are also seeing growth in visitor numbers compared to 2022, although not yet reaching pre-pandemic levels.

Looking ahead, early feedback from tourism, travel trade and airline partners suggests that international demand for Scottish tourism is high It is scheduled to run until 2024.

Visitors are increasingly interested in exploring Scotland’s lesser-known sites and visiting them at different times of the year, a trend that could help relieve pressure on popular tourist hotspots during peak seasons.

VisitScotland remains focused on sustainable growth of the value of Scotland’s visitor economy, encouraging regional and seasonal outreach to ensure Scotland remains a competitive year-round destination.

With its combination of stunning natural beauty, fascinating history and warm and welcoming people, Scotland’s tourism industry looks set to continue its impressive growth in the years to come.

sources:
– Travel directionsOffice for National Statistics
– IPS statistics for Mayvisit Scotland