Tourism industry calls for more support as flights into Scotland increase by 15 per cent
Flights into Scotland are on the up - as are visa spending rates.
Ministers have been urged to do more to protect the tourism industry after flights into Scotland rose by 15 per cent.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance has said it is up to the Scottish government to create the economic conditions needed for the tourism and hospitality industries to grow, as there is clear international demand for these markets.
Recent figures from VisitBritain show flight bookings to Scotland have increased by 15 per cent, compared with a fall of 5 per cent to London airports and 4 per cent to the rest of England.
Visa card spending was also up by 19 per cent year-on-year in Scotland in the first quarter of 2026, compared with just 3 per cent in England.
However there has been a “softer” domestic market, with tourism businesses saying spending by families is down and bookings are being made later. This comes as 58 per cent of Scots say they are cutting back on food and drink in hospitality venues due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “It’s been a good summer for the majority of tourism businesses, and the strength of our international market is extremely encouraging.
“These latest figures show Scotland continuing to perform strongly, and there is no indication that our appeal as a destination has dipped.
“But that doesn’t mean everything is rosy. The domestic market is softer, particularly when it comes to family spending. Bookings are coming later, and the cost of doing business continues to bite hard.
“We have a huge opportunity for tourism to contribute even more to Scotland’s economic growth, but we need to give businesses the conditions to do that. We need government to nurture that growth and avoid further regulatory and tax burdens which negatively impact Scotland’s competitiveness.”
The alliance is asking First Minister John Swinney to commit to a number of measures to support the industry when he sets out his programme for government on Tuesday afternoon.
This includes creating a new tourism and hospitality growth plan, and a commitment to work with the sector to help deliver growth.
It also wants a commitment to no further regulatory or tax burdens on businesses and support for targeted skills development and apprenticeships as declining net migration has left businesses struggling to recruit and retain workers.
Mr Crothall added: “We already know that people want to come to Scotland.
“The opportunity now is to capitalise on that demand and make sure we deliver the quality of experience people expect when they get here.
“Our tourism and hospitality sector has considerable untapped potential as a growth industry and a key export for Scotland, and it’s important that we work in partnership with government to unlock that potential and ensure the sector can continue to grow in a sustainable and responsible way.”
Tourism Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “Our tourism and hospitality sectors make an absolutely crucial contribution to Scotland’s economy creating jobs, sustaining communities and enabling both visitors and residents to experience the incredible offer we have here.
“Our programme for government will unlock economic growth - by ensuring that Scotland is open for business and building on our many strengths.
“We will continue to work with the tourism sector and public partners to create a resilient, sustainable, accessible and inclusive tourism economy, which is fit for the future.”
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