Page last updated: 06 September 2024

Scotland, a region of the United Kingdom, is known for its history and natural landscapes, attracting millions of tourists each year. With its lochs, mountains, and islands, it is a popular destination for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

How many tourists visit Scotland each year?

Over 3 million to 4 million international visitors travelled to Scotland every year since 2017.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Passenger Survey (IPS) was suspended, resulting in no data on Scotland’s tourism between April and December 2020. The available data for that period is modelled.

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How many tourists visited Scotland in 2023?

How many tourists visited Scotland in 2022?

The year 2022 marked the recovery year for Scotland, welcoming 3.24 million international tourists.

How much do tourists spend in Scotland each year?

International visitors spend approximately £3 billion in Scotland each year. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Passenger Survey (IPS) was suspended, and there is no data available for Scotland’s tourism between April and December 2020; only modelled data is available for that period.

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How much did tourists spend in Scotland in 2023?

How much did tourists spend in Scotland in 2022?

How much money does Scotland make from tourism?

Impact of Coronavirus on Scotland’s tourism sector

The pandemic caused losses that were reported by almost all businesses.3

What are the main reasons tourists visit Scotland?

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Which country visits Scotland the most?

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Which country spent the most while visiting Scotland?

UK Travel Resources

How many nights do tourists spend visiting Scotland?

In 2023, international visitors spent a total of 34.35 million nights in Scotland, surpassing the totals from previous years.

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What is the most visited city in Scotland?

Scotland is a popular travel destination known for its landscapes and history.5

Top Attractions in Scotland

Scotland offers a variety of tourist destinations for visitors with different interests.6

When is the best time to visit Scotland?

The best time to visit Scotland depends on the type of experience travellers seek.

When is the tourist season in Scotland?

The peak tourist season in Scotland is during the summer months, particularly from July to September

UK Travel Statistics Resources


References

  1. VisitScotland: International Tourism Performance ↩︎
  2. NatureScot: Sustainable Tourism ↩︎
  3. VisitScotland: Impact of Coronavirus ↩︎
  4. VisitScotland: International Visitors ↩︎
  5. WorldAtlas: Most Popular Destination in Scotland ↩︎
  6. VisitScotland: Top Tourist Attractions in Scotland ↩︎