From vibrant, cosmopolitan cities to the unspoilt ruggedness of the Highlands, there are many reasons why Scottish tourism continues to thrive. Some 27,000 businesses exist in Scotland’s varied and exciting tourism industry, which also supports jobs in areas such as food, retail and distribution, transport and financial services.
The Scottish tourism industry is an important provider of jobs, income and training in rural areas. Tourism generates £4.9 billion for the Scottish economy annually and offers lucrative investment opportunities across several sectors.
The changing face of Scottish tourism
Changes in consumer habits and spending have meant that tourism in Scotland is continually evolving. With the tourism industry growing worldwide, Scotland is responding to competition from emerging destinations across the globe.
Thanks to the country's massive potential – not to mention a plethora of existing attractions – luxury and experiential holidays are on the increase in Scotland, and this factor has driven investment in several sectors, all of which illustrates that success likes it here.
Inward investment in Scottish tourism
Scotland's position as an attractive location for investment has seen major companies invest in several types of development, particularly around golf and resort investment. Scottish tourism has demonstrated consistent and sustained growth which is predicted to continue, creating further investment opportunities in areas such as:
Scotland is setting the pace in the UK with regard to tourism development, attracting prestigious brands and providing an environment in which new concepts will flourish. While new tourism projects are planned or in progress, demand is outstripping supply and further developments are required.
Scottish tourism industry – infrastructure
Scotland is easily accessible by air, road and rail, and ongoing investment in transport infrastructure will help guarantee continuing prosperity for Scottish tourism. More direct flights to Europe, North America and the Middle East have been introduced in recent years, while major investment in road and rail has also taken place.
A quality workforce supporting tourism in Scotland
The Scottish people are regarded as our greatest asset and over 100,000 are directly employed in Scottish tourism businesses. Scots are innovative, dependable and full of integrity and pride – all positive traits recognised by the millions of people who visit each year.
Our workforce is one of the best-trained, most reliable and most cost-competitive in the world. The Scottish tourism industry also benefits from a pool of multilingual workers.
Find out more about the benefits of investing in tourism in Scotland
Key facts about tourism in Scotland further underline the strengths of the industry, while contacting us can help you discover the full range of services we can offer your company.