From nuclear physics to boob jobs – Edinburgh conferences worth £74m

Some 257 events, worth 74.2million, were secured in the year to the end of March, an increase of 57 compared with the previous 12 months.

And the overall value of new business secured rose by 700,000 year on year.

Edinburgh, still the UK's top conference location outside London, will be reaping the benefits for years to come as many events, expected to attract up to 60,000 delegates, are being held as far in the future as 2014.

The Edinburgh Convention Bureau – which oversees efforts to secure new business tourism bookings for the city – believes its reputation for offering value for money, and as a world-leader in academic research and development, has helped it withstand the credit crunch.

Last month, Edinburgh launched a global campaign to promote itself as one of the most creative cities in Europe due to the strength of sectors such as computer gaming, software development, the arts, and design.

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Among the major events secured in recent months are the 2011 International Congress of the European Hernia Society, the International Conference on Neutron Scattering, being held in 2013, and the Quadrennial Congress of the European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, in 2014.

Sue Stuart, chief executive of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau, said: "We're delighted to have sustained our recent growth pattern in what have been very difficult economic conditions. It is down to very hard work and excellent research to identify new events we can target.

"Our results also demonstrate Edinburgh's reputation as a centre of excellence in the fields of academic research and development, particularly in medicine, life sciences and computing which play a significant role in attracting the conferences of professional associations. The city is also seen as a high quality, value for money, destination.

"We still expect to have to compete in difficult economic conditions. However, we are confident we can continue to achieve growth with a focused approach and diligent research."

Tourism industry figures across Scotland have previously reported a slump in business tourism due to firms and organisations cutting back on corporate events and conferences.

Edinburgh is also widely believed to miss out on many events due to the lack of large-scale venues, particularly in the city centre, for major exhibitions, banquets and conferences.

However The Scotsman revealed last month that the city council was in talks with a developer about creating a huge new commercial and leisure district on a vacant site between the RBS headquarters at Gogarburn and Edinburgh Airport. It could include an indoor concert arena and a world trade centre.