Scots spend £1.17 billion a year holidaying in Scotland

Scots spend around £1.17 billion a year on being tourists in their home country, the latest tourist figures reveal.
More than 6.5 m holiday trips are taken by Scots in Scotland. Picture: Phil WilkinsonMore than 6.5 m holiday trips are taken by Scots in Scotland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
More than 6.5 m holiday trips are taken by Scots in Scotland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Scottish holidaymakers take around 6.5 million tourist trips every year on home turf – with the Highlands proving to have the most powerful draw.

Data show that 993,000 tourist trips were taken in the north by Scots who spent around £202m while on their travels there during 2014.

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Eilean Donan Castle at Dornie, Rothiemurchus Estate near Aviemore and Urquhart Castle at Drumnadrochit have the highest overall visitor numbers in the Highlands, according to VisitScotland.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley was the second biggest destination for Scots on a tourist trip – which is measured as an overnight stay or longer.

Around 949,000 breaks were taken in the area during 2014 with £159m spent by Scots while there.

Top attractions are Strathclyde Country Park, Kelvingrove Park and Riverside Museum.

Loch Lomond proved to be the third strongest draw for Scots holidaying at home with 848,000 visitors in 2014.

Here, 848,000 trips were taken by Scots during 2014 with the Loch Lomond Shores complex the biggest draw for all visitors, both from home and abroad.

The Helix and the Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel, Stirling Castle and Queen Elizabeth Forest Park were the next most popular attractions in the region.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “With Scots enjoying more than 6.5 million holiday trips in their own country every year, the popularity of ‘staycations’ shows no signs of abating.

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“It is clear that the whole country reaps the rewards of staycations. Tourism is more than a holiday experience – it creates jobs and sustains communities all year round and is at the heart of the economy.”