Scotch Whisky Experience toasts record year

Tourist attraction the Scotch Whisky Experience has enjoyed its highest ever visitor numbers as it embarks on the final stage of a major overhaul.

More than 155,000 people take the tour last year. Picture: Neil Hanna

The centre, which is sited at the top of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, saw more than 155,000 people take its tour last year, a rise of 12.3 per cent on 2012. Overall visitor numbers to the attraction were up 11.5 per cent to about 300,000.

Figures released yesterday also showed that almost four out of five of the people who visited in 2013 were from outside the UK, with the top three spots occupied by the US, France and Germany. Visitors from China were up by 20 per cent.

Julie Trevisan-Hunter, head of marketing, said: “We had our best year to date in 2012, so we were truly astounded to top these numbers in 2013.

“We are always looking for ways to improve the visitor experience, with the final stages of our five-year renovation process currently underway.”

She added: “2014 is a big year for Scotland.”