North American Visitor Numbers Up

Visits to Scotland from North American tourists rose by 32% in the year to end June 2014.

It led to an 18% growth in expenditure, according to new statistics.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that North American visitor numbers rose sharply from 385,000 in year to the end of June 2013 to 510,000 in the year to the end of June 2014.

Overall, overseas tourist visits increased from over 2.2 million in the year to the end of June 2013 to almost 2.6 million in the year to the end of June 2014.

Overall, spending by tourists from overseas was also up, rising from almost £1.5 million in the year to the end of June 2013 to over £1.6 million in the year to the end of June 2014.

Set against a general decline in domestic visitors across the UK, Scotland experienced a seven per cent decline in the year to the end of June 2014 although spending from domestic visitors was largely maintained.

Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said:

"The Year of Homecoming in 2014 is providing a unique opportunity to encourage more and more visitors to come and enjoy Scotland.

"As these impressive figures demonstrate our North American guests have, in their hundreds of thousands, accepted the invitation.

"VisitScotland's promotional campaigns such as 'Meet the Scots' have clearly resonated with the American public as has the annual 'Scotland Week' celebrations.

"Ahead of last month's 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, throughout the year, emphasis was also placed on promoting Scotland as the world's 'Home of Golf'.

"People from across the globe with an affinity to Scotland have also come in huge numbers to celebrate their ancestral links and heritage.

"Despite operating in a challenging environment, illustrated by a decline in domestic visitors, our tourism industry, it is encouraging to see that spending levels are being maintained in the domestic market in Scotland.

"The people at Scottish tourism's frontline, the staff in our hotels, cafés, restaurants and tourist attractions, are delivering results and providing a memorable experience for visitors from home and abroad."