Scotland Tourism Declines, Spending Rises

​(Source: Internet)

According to a recent article in The Scotsman, Scotland’s tourism numbers have declined.

Writer Jane Bradley notes in the article that Scotland’s foreign visitor numbers fell in the 12 months prior to March and tourism campaigns have failed to keep pace with the previous year’s lineup of high-profile events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead told The Scotsman that there are plans for future investment.

“In a difficult economic and political climate, it is our role to ensure Scotland stays at the forefront of travelers’ minds with continued investment in airline routes, infrastructure, digital innovation and promotion,” said Roughead.

While numbers were down, one bright spot on the horizon was that tourist spending was up.

Tourism secretary Fiona Hyslop noted: “Spending from domestic visitors has increased despite the industry operating under challenging conditions. “European tourists, in particular, continue to flock to Scotland and are spending more.”

According to the article, domestic tourists spent more than £200 million more in visits to Scotland, up 8 percent over the previous year.