Glasgow Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 3 November 2025

Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and architecture. In recent years, it has seen substantial growth in tourism.

How many tourists visit Glasgow each year?

Over 736,000 international tourists traveled to Glasgow in 2024.¹

• Before the pandemic between 2017 to 2019, Glasgow welcomed an average of 2.5 million international and domestic tourists annually.

• In 2019, over 771,000 international tourists visited Glasgow.

• Glasgow welcomed 116,000 international visitors in 2021, showing an 85% decrease compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic year).

• However, Glasgow saw a recovery in 2022 with over 618,000 international visitors, an 81 % increase compared to the previous year but still 20% fewer than 2019 levels.

• By 2023, Glasgow saw a 10.8% increase in visitors, welcoming 685,000 international tourists. 736,000 international visitors came to Glasgow in 2024, a 7.4% more than in 2023 but still 4.5% below 2019 levels.

The IPS was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no tourism data for Edinburgh in 2020

How many tourists visited Glasgow in 2024?

• Glasgow welcomed over 736,000 international visitors in 2024, marking a 7.4% increase compared to the previous year but still 20% lower than 2019 (pre-pandemic).

How many tourists visited Glasgow in 2023?

In 2023, Glasgow attracted over 685,000 international tourists, a 10.8% increase compared to 2022, though still 4.5% lower than the peak year of 2019, when over 771,000 international tourists visited the city.

How much do tourists spend in Glasgow each year?

The tourism sector is a major contributor to Glasgow’s economy generating over £400 million for the city’s economy per year.

• In 2019, international visitors spent over £381 million in the city. 

• This figure dropped to £108 million in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• In 2022, international visitors spent over £440 million in Glasgow, reflecting a 75% increase compared to the previous year and 15% higher than 2019.

• In 2023, international visitors spent over £403 million in Glasgow, an 8.4% decrease from 2022 but 5.8 % higher than 2019.

• £428 million was spent by international visitors in Glasgow in 2024, 6.2% more than in 2023 and 12.3 % higher than in 2019.

How much did tourists spend in Glasgow in 2024?

• Glasgow ranked as the 4th highest earner among the UK’s tourism destinations in 2024, with £428 million generated from international visitors.

• Regarding spending per international visitor, Glasgow ranked 23rd, with an average spend of £582.

Which country visits Glasgow the most?

The United States, Germany, and France consistently rank as the primary sources of international visitors to Glasgow.²

• The USA contributed the most international visits to Scotland, with 794,000 in 2024, a 13% increase from the previous year.

• France ranked second, with 355,000 visits.

• Germany followed with 343,000 visits, while the Netherlands and Spain accounted for 280,000 and 201,000 visits, respectively, in 2024.

Glasgow Tourism Statistics: Domestic vs International Visitors

In 2024, domestic visitors accounted for 1.9 million, while international visitors totaled 736,000.

• Domestic visitors spent a total of 3.52 million nights, while international visitor nights accounted for 4.3 million.

• Total visitor spending for domestic visitors reached £595 million and, for international visitors, it accounted for £428 million.

Who visits Glasgow the most?

In 2024, Glasgow’s visitor demographic was dominated by the 25-34 age group, attracting 179,000 visitors. 

• The 55-64 age group was the second largest, with 153,000 visitors
• This was followed by the 35-44 age group and the 45-54 age group, with each group accounting for 145,000 visitors.
• Seniors aged 65 or over (59,000) and younger visitors aged 16-24 (53,000) also made up a notable share.
• Children aged 0-15 (2,000)  represented the smallest visitor groups.

Why do tourists visit Glasgow?

International tourists to Glasgow visit for several reasons. Besides holidays, below are the top reasons why tourists visit Glasgow.³

• Holidays were the primary reason for tourists visiting Glasgow in 2024, with a total of 307,000 visits, accounting for 41.7% of all visits.
  • This number was 10.8% lower compared to the previous year and 24% lower compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic year.

• The second most common reason in 2024 was visiting friends and relatives, with 266,000 visits accounting for 36.1%.
  • This number was up 35% compared to the previous year and up 11.8% compared to 2019.

• Business trips followed, with 125,000 visits or 17% of total visitors in 2024. 
  • This number was up 13.6% compared to the previous year and up 26.3% compared to 2019.

• Additionally, miscellaneous reasons, including attending sporting events, shopping, health-related reasons, religious purposes, and others, accounted for 38,000 visits or 5.2% of total visits in 2024.
  • This number was up 11.8% compared to the previous year and 26.7% higher than in 2019.

How long do international tourists spend visiting Glasgow?

• 2024: International visitors stayed for an average of 6 nights in Glasgow.
• 2023: International visitors stayed for an average of 6 nights in Glasgow.
• 2022: International visitors stayed for an average of 11 nights in Glasgow.
• 2021: International visitors stayed for an average of 15 nights in Glasgow.
• 2019: International visitors stayed for an average of 6 nights in Glasgow.

Why is Glasgow a popular tourist destination?

• In 2023, Glasgow ranked as the 5th most popular destination in the UK for international visitors.

• Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music, where visitors can experience a wide range of music, from traditional to contemporary genres.⁴

Glasgow Travel Resources

What are the top tourist attractions of Glasgow?

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: Scotland’s second most visited free attraction, showcasing history, art, Egyptian antiquities, and mediaeval armoury, with over 1.3 million visitors annually.

• Celtic Park: One of the world’s most famous football stadiums, hosting special events, tours, and dining experiences. It attracts around 60,000 visitors for events and tours each year.

• Buchanan Street: A major shopping thoroughfare in the heart of Glasgow’s renowned shopping district, visited by millions of shoppers annually.

• Glasgow Science Centre: One of Scotland’s top tourist attractions, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually with its interactive exhibits on science and technology.

• Glasgow Cathedral: The oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland, dedicated to St. Kentigern (St. Mungo), and attracting over 250,000 visitors each year.

How far is Edinburgh from Glasgow?

• Edinburgh is 46.6 miles away from Glasgow, approximately a 1 hour and 10-minute drive, depending on traffic.

UK Travel Statistics Resources

• United Kingdom Statistics
  • Edinburgh Statistics
  • London Statistics
  • Oxford Statistics
  • Scotland Statistics

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References

1.  ONS: Inbound and Outbound Tourism, UK ↩︎
2.  VisitScotland: International Visitors ↩︎
3.  VisitBritain: Inbound visits and spend: trends by UK town ↩︎
4.  VisitoScotland: Glasgow City Center ↩︎