US election could bring tourism woes for Scotland, experts warn

WILMINGTON, OH - NOVEMBER 04: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at the Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services hanger November 4, 2016 in Wilmington, Ohio. With less than a week before Election Day in the United States, Trump and his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, are campaigning in key battleground states that each must win to take the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Potential fluctuating currency rates and fears over economic turmoil in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory could deter US visitors from travelling across the Atlantic, hitting one of Scotland’s most lucrative tourism markets.
The US is the biggest global tourism market for Scotland, with 409,000 visits in 2015, worth £391 million to the Scottish economy.

John Lennon, professor of tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, said Americans could be put off travelling – for both political and economic reasons.

He said: “They remain a nervous travel market already and if Trump does half of the things he says he is going to do, they may feel Americans are less popular than previously. The main problem, however, is the price equation – currency falls in the US could affect people’s travel plans.”

Andrew Shelton, managing director of travel deals website Cheapflights.co.uk said: “What the ‘Trump Effect’ could mean for American tourists – faced with potential currency uncertainty and increased border controls at home – remains to be seen.”

Tourism minister Fiona Hyslop insisted that the vote would not have an effect on incoming tourism from the US.